Wokingham

Derelict bike sheds at St Crispin’s Secondary School in Wokingham are being demolished this week to make way for Wokingham District Council’s innovative housing scheme that aims to help stop teachers and other key workers from being priced out of working in the Wokingham district by the high cost of housing.

Work gets under way at the Wokingham school on Thursday May 10 on clearing land which is currently unused by the school and seen as an eyesore by some local people.

Executive member for community care and housing Wokingham Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons said: “I am delighted that work on this innovative scheme is to get under way this week. Housing for new teachers is desperately needed in this area and we need to do all we can to develop schemes that help to recruit and retain high quality teaching staff to maintain the district’s high standards of education. Since these homes are available at a much lower rent than can be found in the private sector, it will make it easier for new teachers to start to save something towards buying their own house."

Some 22 flats are to be built on the Wokingham school site and could be ready for occupation at the start of the 2007-08 school year. Priority would be given to teachers but if there proved to be insufficient teacher demand for the St Crispin’s homes then the council would offer them to other criminal record-checked key workers, such as police officers, nurses and social workers. The flats would be let at 20-25% below normal rent levels on short-term tenancies.
Working together with Warden Housing, this pilot project could mean that Wokingham District Council is one of the first in the country to build much-needed key worker accommodation on unusable or surplus school land.

Jo Curson, development manager for Warden Housing said: “Warden Housing is delighted to be working with Wokingham DC on this exciting scheme, providing affordable and much needed quality housing for key workers in the local area.”

Anyone wanting further information should contact Louise Strongitharm, senior housing strategy and development officer, on (0118) 974 6779 or louise.strongitharm@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham District Council