Plans for 113 New Homes in Wokingham

Plans to redevelop Mulberry Business Park for 113 council homes, at an estimated cost of up to £35 million, have moved a step closer despite concerns about a charity based there.

The scheme would deliver affordable homes and specialist accommodation for adults and children the council says the borough badly needs.

At a scrutiny meeting on Wednesday, November 4, councillors raised questions about what would happen to existing tenants, including The Cowshed, which provides clothing and essentials to people in hardship.

Council officers warned they could not commit to providing community space in the new development, as that could reduce the number of affordable homes delivered. Councillors asked that tenants be given as much notice as possible before having to leave.

Council leader Cllr Stephen Conway said: "I have enormous sympathy. We will do all we can, but clearly we have an obligation as a council to make best use of this site."

The committee recommended keeping an ongoing dialogue with tenants and giving greater certainty over when they would need to leave so organisations like The Cowshed can plan.

The council is weighing three options for the site: sell it, keep it as a business park or redevelop it. Cllr Conway said keeping it as-is was unlikely to make commercial sense after struggles since Covid and a need for substantial investment.

Selling is possible, but officers said a valuation of just over £3 million would be below the outstanding borrowing on the site.

The council's preferred option is redevelopment. Officer Sarah Morgan said it offered the "strongest strategic case" by letting the authority retain the asset while providing affordable housing.

The proposed £35 million cost was questioned, with Cllr Charles Margetts asking whether roughly £300,000 per home was good value. An officer called it a "decent build price", saying the figure includes courtyards and public spaces as well as the homes.

Potential grant funding of around £12.8 million from Homes England has been discussed but not secured. Officers said the financial picture could change as external funding becomes clearer. The council is also dealing with a commercial tenant whose lease runs until 2036.

The committee asked the council to review how it works with community partners who are tenants and to give existing occupiers as much notice and certainty as possible. The plans are expected to go before the council's executive later this month.

Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter