Reading Borough Council has finished 46 new council homes at the Coley estate on Wensley Road — a project years in the making. The build involved demolishing 29 garages and using greenspace and an old play area to create terraced homes, flats and a new play area.
The homes will allow families, many from three high-rise flats, to move into new council properties.
Councillor Ellie Emberson (Labour, Coley) said: “I’ll be honest, I think it’s been a long time coming, but I want to thank all the staff, all the partners, everyone who’s been involved in the project, and to finally see it arriving and see people actually getting ready to move in, we’ve got people in the houses already and the people in the flats.
“It doesn’t get much better than this, I think this is why many of us become councillors, it’s to make a difference, and this is actually where we can tangibly help.
“I’m so excited to be here finally, and grateful to tenants who have been really patient but it’s all been worth it and I can’t wait to see everyone moved in.”
Cllr Emberson, previously the lead councillor for housing, helped devise the council’s housing delivery plan. The opening is part of a borough-wide drive to deliver more than 400 council homes and improve existing stock, including regeneration of the high-rise flats.
Matt Rodda, Labour MP for Reading Central, said: “This is a wonderful day, this is really significant, these flats and maisonettes here will make an enormous difference to the lives of local residents.
“It’s the beginning of a much bigger programme that’s going to transform the lives of hundreds of people in Reading, and it’s a great success of the council.
“Can I thank everybody who’s been involved, though all the staff, the workforce who built them, the council staff and housing officers, the architect, the umpteen other people, the contractors who over a number of years have worked on this project and produced something really special.
“It’s a real significant step forward for the community here in Coley and the town.”
Mr Rodda said he got permission from his Labour whip to miss parliamentary debates to attend the opening. The Marigold Court flats were officially opened in a ribbon-cutting by Olivia, who was given a two-bed flat.
The event was attended by local Labour councillors Liz Terry (council leader), Paul Gittings and Matt Yeo (Labour, Caversham), the latter being the council’s lead for housing.
The scheme was approved in August 2020, with six councillors voting for it and four voting against. Earlier that year the area suffered a rat infestation, which contractors were brought in to resolve.
Cllr Yeo said other council projects include 42 one-bedroom homes for people aged over 55 in Hexham Road, 30 homes in Dwyer Road and 17 homes in Amethyst Lane, both in Southcote.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
