The construction of 40 new affordable homes on Caversham Road in Reading has reached a major milestone with ‘topping out’ being achieved.
Mayor of Reading, Cllr Tony Page, and local Abbey ward councillors Karen Rowland and Mohammed Ayub, attended to mark the occasion as the building has reached its highest point. The homes are being built by Abri, a leading housing provider, at 45 Caversham Road near the old cattle market. All the homes will be for affordable rent and will offer a combination of one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Cllr Tony Page, Mayor of Reading, said:
“Warm and good quality homes are the foundation for wellbeing and strong connected communities, so I’m really pleased to see these much-needed affordable homes moving a step closer. Our strategy for housing is to provide many more council and social dwellings in Reading and building homes like these shows that affordability can be provided in a central location.”
The homes are being built by Abri’s inhouse construction team and are expected to be ready for the first residents to move in by March 2025. The homes will be funded by Abri to make them affordable alongside grant funding from Abri’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England.
John Kelly, Production Director at Abri said:
“We’re making good progress with these new apartments which will make a real difference to the community. By using our own inhouse team we have full control of the quality and when they’re finished, we’ll have homes that people will feel proud to live in.
“Affordable housing in central locations like this where house prices tend to be higher is vital. The location of these homes means people can easily reach public transport links to commute to work and the centre of town. By building on a brownfield site we’re also revitalising disused land to help provide good quality homes that will keep communities connected.”
The new homes at Caversham Road continue Abri’s delivery of new homes in Reading which include over 300 homes in the pipeline or currently under construction. At Chatham Street, Abri’s inhouse construction team is building 54 homes for shared ownership and affordable rent. At Emmer Green Drive, Abri is also delivering 124 affordable homes as part of the wider 223 home redevelopment of the former Reading Golf Course by Vistry.
