Around 20 residents with additional support needs will soon be moving into brand new specialist accommodation at the Hatch Farm development in Winnersh provided by Loddon Homes in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council and Persimmon Homes

Housing plays a huge role in people’s lives and supporting vulnerable residents with a range of different housing options is a key priority within the council’s housing strategy.  The Hatch Farm scheme is part of a wider programme within the Borough to develop more suitable, fit for purpose, affordable homes for local residents with specialist housing needs.

The council’s vision is to provide these local residents and their carers with appropriate support that prevents, reduces, or delays the need for ongoing care, while giving them choice of where and who they live with. This is key as it makes such a positive difference to their lives and maximises their wellbeing and independence.

These two bungalows and 14 apartments have been built by Persimmon Homes as part of their larger Hatch Farm development and will be owned and managed by Loddon Homes, the council’s wholly owned housing association.  Loddon Homes has a strong local reputation for providing high quality affordable homes that are efficiently managed and maintained whilst at the same time supporting the council to invest back into local communities across the Borough.

As well as the excitement of moving into a brand-new suitable home, residents will also be able to receive the right care and support to meet their needs, provided by the council’s social care company Optalis.  By moving away from private rental and expensive residential care, this innovative scheme helps reduces council costs, as well as overall spend, rent and day to day living costs for the individuals.

Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said: “Our aim is to increase the opportunities for all vulnerable adults to live independently within our community. It is important we are able to offer accommodation that is fit for purpose, modern, safe, and affordable while also taking into account the needs of our residents.

“The places we live in have a significant impact on our health and wellbeing, and if the homes we offer to people are unsuitable for them and fail to provide facilities to support independence or long-term provision it can have a negative impact on our customers and result in higher costs.”

Cllr John Kaiser, executive member for finance and housing, said: “We know these new homes will make such a different to the lives of local people. We are committed to ensuring there is a range of accommodation options to allow people to continue to live in the community and provide housing that is built for the future, taking into account disabilities and meeting specialist needs”

Cllr Shahid Younis, chair of Loddon Homes, said: “As a Council owned Registered Provider Loddon Homes is fortunate in that its business model can flex to enable us to prioritise and purchase supported living schemes such as Hatch Farm. This type of housing is in such high demand, and we are proud that we can work with local and national builders such as Persimmon to meet this need”.

David Birch, chief executive of Optalis, said: “We believe in the importance of giving everyone, regardless of their circumstances, the opportunity to live happy, independent and safe lives.  My team and I are delighted to be so closely involved in this impressive new development.  We are looking forward with real enthusiasm to working with each person who is moving to Hatch Farm to give them the best possible care and support in their new homes.”

Loddon Homes and Berry Brook Homes have recruited a new Managing Director (MD) to take both companies forward on the next stage of their growth and development

We are delighted to announce that Monwara Ryatt (Monni) joined the team on Monday (7^th March). She will be taking over from Nigel Bailey who will be retiring at the end of the month. Monni will be working closely with residents, Working Borough Council, the two Boards, and key partners to develop the new Business Plan and key Strategies to strengthen both companies’ financial position and ensure that stay strong and become an outstanding brand moving forward.

Monni started her career as a retail store manager after leaving college, before moving into project management, to work with residents and community groups in urban regeneration programmes for a community-based housing association in the Midlands. This then led to several senior roles at strategic level in Housing and Business Growth and Development for small and large housing associations, local authorities, Tenants Management Organisations, and private sector housing. Monni has worked with customers, communities, and small and large boards to grow and develop ‘fit for purpose’ housing services across the UK. She has over 30 years of solid housing management and housing development experience, which will bring a wealth of knowledge, and area of expertise, to both companies. Monni has a BA Honours Degree in Housing Management and an MBA in Public Policy, and she is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Monni states that she is very passionate about creating “excellence in customer service and optimising full potential of organisations and therefore looks forward to the exciting challenge ahead”.

“I am very excited at the prospect of working with the two boards, my team, Wokingham Borough Council, tenants, residents, local communities, contractors, developers and key partners to move things forward. Following the challenges of the recent pandemic, this is a very exciting time to start this new journey and I look forward to working with everyone to achieve our key goals in the coming year.”

Both boards welcome Monni and look forward to working with her.

“I look forward to welcoming Monni to her post, ready to execute a new, strong business plan to ensure the continued success of the companies and playing an important part in delivering on the Council’s commitment to affordable housing in the Borough,” says Cllr Shahid Younis, Chair, Loddon Homes.

The team are also looking forward to working with Monni.

“I am really excited to work alongside Monni and face new challenges for Loddon Homes and Berry Brook Homes together. Monni brings so much experience that will benefit the organisation, the people who work here and most importantly our residents,” says Karen Howick, Head of Operations.

While Karen is delighted that Monni is on board, she also wants to thank Nigel Bailey, the out-going MD, for his invaluable involvement in re-shaping the companies, to provide the best local and affordable housing and services.

“Nigel steered the organisations through significant change and restored the relationships that are so pivotal to the success of the local housing companies. While Nigel has led the organisation, he also enabled the team to grow and be successful in their own rights. We are all sad to see him go but wish him every success in the future,” Karen adds.

Cllr Shahid Younis also adds: “During his time as MD, Nigel has worked tirelessly to ensure the future of the Local Housing Companies by building strong foundations for the organisation to grow upon. On behalf of myself and the Board we thank Nigel for his commitment over the past two years.”

Nigel is confident that he is leaving the companies in safe hands and wishes Monni every success in her new role.

“While I am sad to leave, I know that the organisation is in safe hands, supported by a dedicated workforce, trusted partners, a strong pipeline for future housing in the Borough and an effective board,” says Nigel Bailey, former MD of Loddon Homes and Berry Brook Homes.

Monni and the whole team would like to take this opportunity to thank Nigel for his contribution to date and wish him well on his retirement.

We are looking for a resident Non-Executive Director (NED) to join our dynamic and friendly Board. If you are a Loddon Homes resident or shared owner and want to make a real difference to our residents’ lives and the communities they live in, then we would love to hear from you.

Who can apply?

Anyone who is a current Loddon Homes resident. We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative, and committed person; someone who will bring fresh perspectives to our discussions and can bring diversity to our Board in terms of cultural background, identification, ability, gender or age. No previous experience or specific qualifications are needed – all we ask for is commitment to the role, a keen interest in everything that Loddon Homes does, and a willingness to contribute to all aspects of decision making.

Don’t worry if you have no experience of working within a corporate environment or don’t have all the core competencies listed, we will train you in whatever areas you need. The main requirement for this role is that you are willing to engage enthusiastically and have a real passion for making Loddon Homes the best landlord we can be for all our residents. We are offering an attractive remuneration package of £3,000 per annum plus reasonable expenses. If you are in receipt of welfare benefits we can set out what this might mean for you.

About us

Loddon Homes is part of a group of companies that are wholly owned by Wokingham Borough Council (WBC). We are a modern provider of social and affordable housing in Wokingham. Registered with the Regulator of Social Housing in 2016 as a For-Profit Registered Provider, Loddon Homes generates a financial return for the Council which is invested back into communities and services throughout the Borough. We provide high quality housing for local people, built by partners that share our vision and values, and everything we do is aimed at delivering first class services for our residents.

Our values

Our values form a central part of our culture and how we work with residents, employees, partners and stakeholders. All members of the Loddon Homes team, whether NEDs, staff or volunteers are expected to behave in ways that are consistent with our values.

• We are Accessible to our customers
• We are an organisation with Integrity who treats our customers fairly
• We strive to be Efficient in our service offering and designs
• We are Collaborative, working closely with partners and customers
• We deliver Quality services, whilst expecting quality services and products from our contractors

Board roles & responsibilities

Our Board is responsible for ensuring the success of Loddon Homes by setting and monitoring our strategic direction, by providing oversight, support, and constructive challenge to the association’s management, and by ensuring our compliance with all legal and regulatory obligations.

The Board comprises seven members: the Managing Director as executive director, three independent NEDs who are appointed based on their knowledge and experience within the social housing industry, two councillor nominees from Wokingham Borough Council, including the Chair; and one resident NED.

All NEDs are expected to develop a strategic (not operational) understanding of the business of housing associations so as to effectively contribute to our discussions and help enable the Board to determine the vision and strategy of Loddon Homes. Training and support will be provided where needed to empower the successful candidate to fully contribute to the work of the Board.

Board meetings take place bi-monthly during office hours and usually last about two hours. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Board meetings have taken place online and will continue to do so until we have fully transitioned back to working in the office, and we will make sure you have the right equipment and technology to be able to participate.

The role of the Resident Non-Executive Director

Resident engagement plays a vital role in meeting our aims to increase resident satisfaction, and to provide high quality homes and housing services. The role of the resident Board member is to make sure the voices of our residents inform how we shape Loddon Homes. We want to be certain that our residents’ views and opinions are heard right at the top; that’s why we have a resident Board member. Resident Board members help us to see where and how we can improve our services; they participate in Board meetings so that they can influence the work we do, provide challenge and different perspectives to management, as well as many other unique functions and events.

Personal attributes

There are many qualities needed in a housing association Board member. The successful candidate for our Resident NED post will bring personal qualities and behaviours from their own experiences to help shape our future priorities and the services we deliver. To be a good Board member, all you need to do is be yourself and don’t be afraid to ask questions, look at the bigger picture and be objective. We are looking for a resident who:

• Has wide-ranging views on what our residents need and how we can continually improve our services
• Wants to make a positive contribution in the community and represent our residents on the Board
• Has a real interest in customer engagement and participation
• Is able to attend 6 Board meetings a year (held during office hours)

Lee Newton, our current Resident Non-Executive Director

Lee Newton joined Loddon Homes’ Board of directors as a NED right at the start of our exciting journey in 2015. He was actively involved in Loddon Homes’ registration process and final awarding of our For-Profit Registered Provider status with the Regulator of Social Housing. As well as being an involved resident for Wokingham Borough Council, throughout his tenure on our Board Lee has been involved in the approval for some ten new developments of affordable housing in Wokingham Borough. He also sits on Loddon Homes’ Audit & Risk Committee, providing governance and scrutiny guidance to the organisation. Lee provides invaluable resident insight on matters that directly affect residents such as engagement & empowerment, health & safety and the quality of our services.

Core Competencies required of all Board members

Self-management: Prepare for and attend meetings, reading the Board papers provided beforehand; use power appropriately; respect confidences.

Leading and motivating: Demonstrate commitment to the purpose of the organisation both inside and outside Board meetings; maintain a high standard of conduct; strive to improve personal performance and that of the team; focus on learning and not on blame, providing both encouragement and constructive challenge.

Directing strategy: See long-term implications and take a broad overview; spot opportunities or possibilities; contribute to activities that involve planning, controlling and monitoring; contribute to setting and prioritising objectives.

Analysing and scrutinising: Able to read information (including financial reporting) and pick out the key issues; seek to clarify any ‘grey’ areas; explore the consequences of a proposal or action.

Able to make decisions as part of a group: Influence others through persuasive discussion, confronting or challenging without appearing aggressive and giving reasoned, thought-through contribution.

Team player: Support the Board’s vision for the organisation; develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, offering both support and challenge in a way that is constructive and collaborative; be aware of the effect of your own personality on others and manage this sensitively to get the best from interactions with others.

Influencing and relationship building: Build relationships and act as a positive influence on different stakeholder groups; ensure your own behaviour reflects the values of the organisation in meetings with different audiences.

Self-development: Be open to and demonstrate learning; seek opportunities for exposure to new thinking, experiences, and insights to improve your own ability/contribution.

How to apply

Please send us your up-to-date CV and a covering letter explaining why you are interested in joining our Board toinfo@loddonhomes.co.uk  Tell us about yourself and why you are interested in this opportunity. If you need any help with your CV, we can send you a template and some useful tips to help you write it.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application within 24 hours (if you don’t hear from us within this time, please do let us know so we can check).

Candidates who are shortlisted will be invited to attend an online interview during the week commencing 28 February 2022 with our Chair, Shahid Younis; our Managing Director, Nigel Bailey; and our current Resident NED, Lee Newton.

The closing date for applications is Monday 21 February 2022

Please download the brochure HERE.

Our annual resident’s report reveals that 95% of residents are happy with the quality of their home.

 

We’re pleased that all of our residents have now received a copy of our annual report, which gives a snapshot of our performance between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

It also gives updates on future plans for Loddon Homes, the results of our bi-annual residents survey, plus sections on the latest Government guidance and best practice for social housing providers.

 

Delivering what matters most in a difficult year

 

When looking back on the past year, Covid 19 and the effects of the pandemic are at the front of everyone’s minds. Most of us have spent more time at home than ever before, and having a secure, safe place to call home has never been so important. We are pleased to report that we, our agent, Wokingham Borough Council and all our partners, worked hard to maintain services for our residents throughout the lockdowns despite the restrictions, including repairs, new lettings, tenancy and financial help and advice, £4.3m and supporting our vulnerable and elderly residents at a time when they needed it most.

 

Support, growth, and communities

 

Supporting our residents and helping to grow communities is at the forefront of all we do. We are therefore thrilled that our residents are also pleased with the services we provide.

95% of residents are happy with the quality of their home.
91% would recommend Loddon Homes to friends or family.
91% are happy with the service provided by Loddon Homes.
96% are happy that Loddon Homes provides a home that is safe and secure.
85% agree that Loddon Homes treats its residents fairly.
64% agree that we listen to residents’ views and act on them.
73% agreed we give them the opportunity to make their views known.
We are very proud of the work that we do and thank our residents for the kind messages and compliments that we received in the survey.

 

What our residents say

 

“The people who I’ve been in contact with while moving house have all been lovely and very helpful.”

“After 1 year I still wake up every morning blessed that I get to live in the most beautiful new build home.”

“Everything is perfect.”

 

But we don’t want to sit still and know we can always do better. So, we are looking forward to working with all our residents over the next year to deliver even more affordable homes and an even better service.

 

The full Annual Report can be found HERE.

Can you take us to the next level?

We are recruiting for an exceptional individual to lead our two small (but perfectly formed) housing organisations to the next level.

Both Loddon Homes and Berry Brook Homes are wholly Council-owned companies (with Loddon Homes being a for-profit Registered Provider) set up to deliver and manage high quality affordable and market homes for local people and provide a financial return to Wokingham Borough Council.

With two engaged Boards, a settled and enthusiastic staff team, over 90% customer satisfaction, updated business plans being finalised and a strong new development pipeline in place this is the ideal time to come and join us.

You should have a passion for helping address local housing need and for providing the best possible value for money service to all our customers. Alongside that you will need a great track record of achievement at senior management level and exceptional communication and partnership development skills.

The role is part time (2-3 days a week) with a full-time equivalent salary of around £60-£65k (dependent on experience).

To apply please provide a comprehensive CV together with a statement (on no more than 2 sides of A4) as to why you are interested in the role, how your skills and experience match the job description and person specification and why you are the best person to drive our organisations forward.

Please send your CV and statement to nigel.bailey@wokingham.gov.uk.

For an informal chat please contact Nigel Bailey on the email address above or on 07789 941092

Closing date 17th January 2022

Download job description

Reuniting a thriving community – how the sustainable regeneration of Arnett Avenue is bringing back comfort, style, and security to the area

The completion of Phase One of the Gorse Ride regeneration programme has brought back safety and security as residents settle into their modern and stylish new homes with pride.

Six months on, the residents are delighted with the growing community and the support that new landlord Loddon Homes, Wokingham Borough Council’s housing team and the builders RJ Leighfield & Sons have given them.

One of the new residents, who moved into one of the new houses in Arnett Avenue has high praise for the regeneration team.

“I am registered blind and I needed somewhere separate in my garden for my guide dog Freddy to do his business,” says Steve Bowers, who is also chair of the Gorse Ride Steering Group.

“I happened to talk to the foreman about this and the next thing I knew, they had built a pen for Freddy, which also included a drain. The service has been amazing. Everyone at Loddon Homes is so friendly and approachable and our local housing officer always responds quickly,” he adds.

Community and friendship

Improving and investing in the local community is an important part of the regeneration programme.

Loddon Homes provided a complimentary move-in package for the new residents, which included a hamper of goodies and a ‘handyman’ service to help put up shelves, curtain poles and make the moving-in process as easy as possible. The landlord also supplied skips so that rubbish could be disposed of quickly and the area kept tidy.

This level of support, and the pride that the new residents have of their new homes and the improved area, has already created a community kindred spirit.

“A few neighbours in the new development recently got together to tidy up some pathways, working as a team. You could really feel the sense of community and pride as they worked together. It’s wonderful to be part of this community and I know this will continue to grow as the regeneration progresses,” he says.

Prospective tenant of the next phase of the regeneration and life-time Gorse Ride resident Mrs J Morgan-Jones is pleased that the regeneration is already bringing new families to the area, which is helping to rebuild the community and offer the neighbourhood friendships she remembers as a child.

Stylish homes

Phase One of the regeneration of Gorse Ride consists of 10 new homes; three of which are being purchased outright by existing homeowners within the Gorse Ride community, and the remaining seven allocated for social rent to residents transferring from within Gorse Ride (as part of the wider regeneration programme). This phase also includes a suite of 16 one and two bed apartments for social rent, and 20 one and two bed apartments for shared ownership.

Each home has been finished to a very high standard, ensuring that the properties are all future-proof buildings for energy efficiency and long-lasting communities.

The quality and specification of each of the modern properties is outstanding, benefitting from attentive planning. Each is equipped with an impressive modern kitchen, stunning bathroom, large bedroom(s), and a bright and spacious living area.

The high standards provide the opportunity for long residencies in modern and stylish properties with all of the mod-cons available, including planning for electric vehicle charging points in the area.

Mr Bowers is delighted with his new home and the quality of the finish, which he says contributes to how proud each resident is of their home and the improved area.

Mrs Morgan-Jones is looking forward to moving into her new home in the next phase of the regeneration, particularly after seeing the high quality of the new apartments at Redlands House.

“I was very impressed by the new buildings that have gone up in phase one. I was given a tour of Redlands House and I was really pleased with the final outcome and the workmanship that went into them. They thought about everything, down to the very last detail and spared no expense. They are very nice inside.”

Mrs Morgan-Jones is also impressed with how the regeneration team have listened to people’s needs, including her own.

“The regeneration team have done nothing but be helpful and understanding about people’s needs and are trying their best to accommodate everyone with their options,” she comments.

New residents can now lay down roots and be part of a growing and thriving community, enjoying safety, style, and comfort in their new sustainable homes.

Loddon Homes is a For Profit, Registered Provider owned by Wokingham Borough Council

The Gorse Ride community regeneration programme consists of social rent and shared ownership homes. Phase One at Arnett Avenue is now completed.

Shared ownership offers an affordable solution to home ownership. The minimum percentage purchase share is 35% and purchasers can put down as a little as 5% deposit on this share, with rent being charged at 1.5% on the remaining unsold equity.  For further information regarding these properties please email: info@loddonhomes.co.uk.

In a joint initiative, Loddon Homes (Wokingham Borough Council’s wholly owned provider of housing), are now ready to welcome current homeless members of the community in to four high-quality one-bedroom apartments, with tenancy and lifeskills support led by Two Saints.

Loddon Homes with the support of Wokingham Borough Council submitted a grant application through Homes England for over £500,000 to partially fund the purchase of the four properties. The approved funding was provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of a national campaign to tackle rough sleeping in the U.K.

As a long-term approach to preventing homelessness in the area, the partnership between Wokingham Borough Council, Loddon Homes and Two Saints, is designed to provide specialist support for residents to maintain their tenancy and ultimately find a permanent home.  Rebuilding the lives of the most vulnerable in the borough and helping them to enjoy a future away from the streets is the collective objective.

Two Saints already provide an outreach service to rough sleepers within Wokingham, commissioned by Wokingham Borough Council. Regional Director, Kate Gladders  said of this new initiative; “We are excited to be working in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council, to support people with a history of rough sleeping, to sustain safe, quality  accommodation”.

David Hunter, Chair of the Loddon Homes Board, agrees with prevention being the focus; “We are delighted to be taking our first steps towards homelessness prevention.  Working collaboratively with Wokingham Borough Council and Two Saints means we are able to not only offer much needed accommodation, but also essential access to long-term housing support”.

Residents will begin to move into the properties from 23 August onwards.

10 new homes at Arnett Avenue have now been handed over to Loddon Homes, ready to welcome members of the Gorse Ride South community as part of the first phase of the Council’s ambitious regeneration plans for the area.

3 of the 10 new homes have been purchased outright by existing homeowners within the Gorse Ride community, with the remaining 7 allocated for social rent to residents transferring from elsewhere within Gorse Ride (as part of the wider regeneration programme).

David Hunter, acting Chair of the Loddon Homes Board, commented; “We are extremely excited to be in receipt of the first new homes at Arnett Avenue.  We have a total of 46 new homes being delivered as part of the Gorse Ride South Regeneration Programme, and are delighted to see the outstanding quality and high specification of these homes and their outdoor areas become reality.  More importantly we cannot wait for the residents to enjoy homes they can be proud of – that’s really what is at the core of building communities to last in Wokingham Borough – the cornerstone to our growing portfolio of supported, social, affordable and shared ownership homes”.

The construction of the two and three bed houses, was overseen by Wokingham Borough Council’s Development Team, working with Loddon Homes to ensure the design and build met the criteria of high-quality, energy efficient, affordable housing for the Borough.

Cllr John Kaiser, Portfolio holder for housing said; “This development has really benefited from careful planning to future-proof not only the buildings themselves, but the communities that will live there. Bright and spacious living areas combined with large bedrooms and impressive modern amenities such as solar panels and electric car charging points, emphasise our position at the forefront of providing the best local and affordable housing”.

Elizabeth Atkins, one of the new residents of Arnett Avenue, shared the enthusiasm of all involved in bringing this phase of the development to fruition – saying of her new home: “I feel so fortunate to be able to live here, the property is beautiful and designed so well, with spacious rooms and so much natural light from the large windows.  It’s also amazing to look at from the outside! Lots of people have already complimented the use of different building materials. I am very much looking forward to a long, fulfilled life in this new home with my family.  I am so thankful to everyone who made it happen”.

The eagerly anticipated release of the remainder of phase one, a suite of 16 one and two bed apartments for social rent and 20 one and two bed apartments for shared ownership, are due for hand over later this summer.

Residents at an independent living scheme in Woodley celebrate one year since flagship opening.

Residents were joined today by The Worshipful the Mayor of Wokingham Borough, Cllr John Kaiser, and The Deputy Mayor of Wokingham Borough, Cllr Bill Soane, as well as representatives from scheme landlord Loddon Homes and the onsite care team Optalis to celebrate one year since the opening of Fosters.

Fosters opened its doors to its first residents in January 2018. The opening marked a milestone achievement for Wokingham Housing, the Council’s housing development company, as well as Wokingham Borough Council who commissioned the build and Optalis who all worked together to ensure that all the varying care and housing needs of the residents were met from day one.

A year later and the scheme is at full capacity and continues to meet the changing needs of its residents.

During the celebration, which included a cream tea and birthday cake for all residents, a musical performance from Mack Entertainment for residents and guests. Cllr John Kaiser, the Worshipful the Mayor of Wokingham Borough said “Fosters has always been a big success story for Wokingham Borough, so many parties were involved in making this development happen and it is great to see that a year on the success keeps building. The residents that I have met continue to be happy in their homes and the care that they receive from Optalis, and we can’t ask for anything more than that!”

Brian Hornhill, who has been living at Fosters since it opened in January 2018, said “We have had a fantastic afternoon celebrating and listening to the lovely music. I am very happy to be living at Fosters, there is a great team of carers and what’s best is the community that lives here and the friends that I have made”.

You can find out more about Fosters and all schemes being delivered by Loddon Homes by visiting www.loddonhomes.co.uk or telephone 0118 908 8479.

Today, Loddon Homes welcomes its first shared owners to their new homes at Elizabeth Road in central Wokingham. The buyers of the two semi-detached homes have been able to purchase under the Help to Buy: Shared Ownership scheme which helps residents to purchase a percentage of their home while paying rent on the remaining portion owned by Loddon Homes. The Help to Buy: Shared Ownership scheme enables people to buy a house of their own that they otherwise just would not be able to afford in a Borough like Wokingham, where house prices are more than 50% higher than the national average.

Gary Cowan, Chairman of the Loddon Homes Board commented “Through providing these new shared ownership properties to residents of Wokingham Borough we are able to provide financially accessible purchasing options for those individuals that are unable to buy on the open market due to ever rising house prices in the Borough. With this offering, Loddon Homes has made it possible for these buyers to get that all important first step on to the housing ladder without the huge deposits required if they were to purchase a house on the open market. Loddon Homes is delighted to be able to help our very first shared owners to buy a home of their own”.

The spacious, semi-detached homes at Elizabeth Road feature three bedrooms, en-suites to the master bedrooms, large living spaces, good sized gardens and designated parking. The two homes are ideally located in close proximity to Wokingham town centre and mainline train station.

These properties, as well as two brand new maisonettes at Barrett Crescent, mark the first shared ownership homes built by Council-owned development company Wokingham Housing (WHL). Upon completion the homes were purchased by Loddon Homes, another Council-owned company, which is a regulated Registered Provider of housing who remain a part owner of the homes for the unsold share, until the shared owners can afford to buy more of their home, and eventually hopefully own all of their home outright. The developments were built on underused Council assets, replacing two sets of dilapidated garages. As shared ownership properties, the developments have benefited from a Government Homes England grant of close to £90,000.

Bill Flood, Managing Director of Loddon Homes commented that “These new properties mark the first of many shared ownership homes that WHL and Loddon Homes will deliver over the coming years and form part of a broad portfolio of affordable homes being delivered in the Borough. These homes, commissioned by Wokingham Borough Council to meet local peoples’ housing needs, are giving individuals on lower incomes the opportunity to purchase and rent homes at a level that they can afford so they can stay close to family, friends and jobs”.

All Loddon Homes shared ownership properties have been built to life-time homes and Secure by Design standards.

To find out more about future affordable housing schemes in Wokingham Borough please visit loddonhomes.co.uk.