More affordable homes for Thatcham as two derelict sites come forward

Taceham House and the Pound Lane depot to be developed

MORE affordable housing will be developed in Thatcham.

Two sites, one “plagued by delays”, are expected to be developed soon.

Taceham House will be converted into 10 affordable homes after Sovereign Housing Association and West Berkshire Council finalised a contract last week on the sale of the derelict block of flats.

The building, in The Haywards, has stood empty since 2009. The council approved plans to demolish it and replace it with a mix of houses and flats in June last year, with the Conservative group conceding in its election manifesto that the process had been “plagued by delays”.

A spokesman for Sovereign, Roy Probert, said that construction work is expected to begin in September once the building has been demolished.

Sovereign’s regional development director, Roger Keeling, said: “We’re very pleased that we have been able to reach agreement with West Berkshire Council on the sale of this land. We applaud its vision in wanting to utilise its land in this way.

“This will not only allow us to bring more much-needed affordable homes to Thatcham, and so help to meet local housing need, but also to regenerate this part of town, which local people are very keen to see.”

Meanwhile, developments are also being made for the former Veolia recycling depot in Pound Lane.

The site was put up for sale in 2013 after becoming surplus to requirements following the opening of the Padworth centre in 2012.

At the time of the sale being decided the council agreed that an amount of money raised by the sale of the land should be earmarked towards more affordable housing in the district.

And at a meeting of West Berkshire Council’s executive in April, Alan Law (Con, Basildon) said that the council was expecting to exchange contracts with its preferred buyer for the depot within four to six weeks.

Mr Law said that a minimum of 47 homes would be built on the site, of which 15 would be affordable.

The site appeared in West Berkshire Council’s strategic housing land availability assessment document with a development potential of 21 properties; although it noted that the site could accommodate between 40 and 50 units.

The document stated that the depot was immediately available, with nothing to indicate that it is not viable, and deliverable within a five-year time period.

Roger Croft (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) said the announcement was excellent news as it would bring more affordable homes to the town on a brownfield site.

Liberal Democrat town councillor Jeff Brooks (Thatcham West), referring to the council’s delays in tackling Taceham House, said: “I’ll believe it when I see it.”