Slough council housing to be given £140m boost

The biggest investment in council housing in a generation has been announced by Slough Borough Council (SBC).

This week it unveiled plans to invest £140m in council housing over the next seven years – with £40m set aside to build new council homes over the next four years.

The details will be revealed in SBC’s Housing Revenue Account Business Plan, due to be presented to cabinet on Monday, October 17.

Cllr Zaffar Ajaib, commissioner for housing and urban renewal, said: “Council housing is becoming more, not less, important as it is vital to provide affordable accommodation for people who live and work in the borough.

“Private house prices and rents are escalating year on year and our ambition is to provide good quality housing stock and build new homes which can be offered to residents at affordable rent.”

SBC owns and manages more than 7,100 properties across the borough but demand for council housing continues to outstrip supply.

The proposed investment will see £100m ploughed into existing council homes for repairs and maintenance.

Work will also continue on building new homes like those seen in Britwell as part of the area’s regeneration project.

If approved by cabinet, the plan will be reviewed in March as government policy and legislation changes could affect the money underpinning the business plan.

Cllr Ajaib added: “The £40m investment in new council homes is the biggest in more than a generation and the whole £140m will benefit those who are already council tenants and those who wish to be.

“It shows there is a bright future for council housing in Slough with more homes for local people.”

The meeting of the council’s cabinet where the proposal will be discussed takes place at St Martin's Place and starts at 6.30pm.