Thatcham set to benefit from more affordable housing

West Berkshire Council’s executive decided on Thursday to approve a decision to sell off the former recycling depot in Pound Lane for housing, subject to a proportion being affordable.
Having put the site on the market, the council received a number of bids and it was decided to approach the highest bidder with a view to completing the sale.
When finalised, the sale should bring in 43 homes to the town of which 13 will be affordable. Furthermore, the council agreed that an amount of the money raised by sale of the land should be earmarked towards more affordable housing in the district in the future.
Executive member for housing Roger Croft (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) said: “This is an excellent agreement that will help at least some of the many people who need to find secure housing in a district where house prices are relatively high.
“This planned sale meets two of the council's priorities; getting excellent value for the council taxpayer when disposing of council assets, and demonstrating a real commitment to developing affordable housing across the district.
“In line with our planning policy, it will deliver a desirable mix of affordable and open-market homes.
“And using money from the capital receipt to target more affordable homes elsewhere in the district is win-win.”
The Pound Lane depot became surplus to requirements after the new waste management facility at Padworth opened last year.
It was formerly run by Veolia and was put up for sale in June.
Town councillor for the Thatcham West ward, Brian Barnes (Lib Dem), said that he was all in favour of turning the former commercial property into a residential use.
He said: "It being sold for housing is a very good idea – I've said this before.
“It will be in keeping with the rest of the road.
“We need one or two more houses in Thatcham and to use Greenfield would be wrong.
“To use this land would be good."
The council will now proceed with formalising a sale.