Wokingham Borough Council has secured major funding from the Government to back its drive to secure good quality housing developments accompanied by schools, transport links and sporting, community and youth facilities.

The borough will see major development in the years up to 2026, with about 10,000 homes to be built in four major sites, known as Strategic Development Locations (SDLs). Its vision is to make sure these homes complement existing towns and villages and become successful, sustainable and thriving communities: and the government has backed that vision with £2.5m over the next three years.

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Leader of the Council Cllr David Lee said: "This is a huge vote of confidence that the government recognises that Wokingham borough can deliver quality communities that will become great places to live. The government believes that the economy needs house building but what Wokingham borough needs is to make sure the houses built become real communities where there are great schools, open spaces, places for children to play, community facilities and good transport links. And this funding will help us achieve those things."

Wokingham borough was earmarked as a potential recipient of this funding in September and has worked closely with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the Government since then to prove it will be able to use the money efficiently and effectively to deliver the homes and communities necessary.

A high-level delegation including Cllr Lee, Wokingham MP John Redwood and Borough Council Chief Executive Andy Couldrick visited Housing Minister Mark Prisk in September to set out the borough's case. And the government announced on December 13 that Wokingham borough was one of just two places in the country to receive funding along with Cranbrook near Exeter.

(CD/GK)