URL: https://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4054

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: To approve a grant programme to fund the acquisition of large family homes for allocation to current households on the Council’s housing register, via a registered provider of housing partner.

Content: RESOLVED that   i.       the allocation of s106 affordable housing funding to a Registered Provider to acquire 4 three bedroom and 4 four bedroom homes to be made available for families on the council’s housing register is approved.   ii.     the spending of £2.86m of capital spend from the s106 affordable housing fund for the programme is agreed. i.       The need for additional three- and four-bedroom homes is a priority for the Council, as set out in the Housing Strategy 2023-2028. The shortage of larger properties has resulted in average waiting times of over 5 years for three-bedroom homes and over 6 years for four-bedroom homes.   ii.     The Council has approximately £5.5m in s106 affordable housing funds available once existing commitments are considered. The proposal in this report is to allocate approximately half of this funding to support an acquisition programme.   iii.    An increase in large family homes provided for social rent would help to alleviate overcrowding in the borough, with wider benefits for the families who are allocated these homes. i.       At the present time, there are no other proposals for spend of the uncommitted funds in the s106 affordable housing fund, which can only be used for additional affordable housing.   ii.     Other options for increasing the number of three and four bed homes for affordable and social rent include: working through the planning process to seek more larger affordable homes from developers; use of surplus council land to deliver new build larger homes through transfer to a register provider (as proposed on the Binfield Road site) or through the joint venture partnership (as proposed on the Depot site); targeted programmes to support under-occupiers living in larger homes to downsize to smaller properties. All the above options are already being pursued and are expected to deliver a modest increase in larger affordable homes in future years.   iii.    Cabinet could choose to increase the number of properties acquired through this scheme by seeking properties to be let at affordable rents, or through a mix of affordable and social rents. None

Date of Decision: November 4, 2025