Households in Bracknell Forest could have to wait years before they’ll be able to live in an affordable social home, even if no new households joined the waiting list, according to new analysis of the latest affordable housing figures[i].
Analysis by the National Housing Federation (NHF) found that while 1869 households were on Bracknell Forest Council’s waiting list for social housing, only 322 new social housing lettings were available last year (2022/23).
Social housing lettings refer to homes which have been let at either social rent, which is typically 50% of market rents, or Affordable Rent, which is at least 20% below market rents – making them the only affordable option for many. Across the country, the chronic shortage of genuinely affordable social homes has left many families stuck in unaffordable, unsuitable accommodation, cut off from local support networks, far from school or job opportunities or even facing homelessness.
Abri is joining the NHF’s call for political parties to commit to a long-term national plan to solve the housing crisis to support the hundreds of households in Bracknell in desperate need of a safe, suitable and affordable home.
Dasos Christou, Abri’s Regional Managing Director for the south east said:
“At Abri, we believe everyone has the right to a safe, warm and affordable home. We’re passionate about building the many more affordable homes our community needs, but we can’t do that alone. We’re calling on the next government to commit to a long-term plan for housing so that we can work with our local authority partners, like Bracknell Forest Council, to build the homes our communities urgently need.”
The consequences of this have been felt across Bracknell as the housing crisis in England worsens. The effect this has on those on low incomes is devasting. The shortage of affordable homes in Bracknell means that more and more people have had to turn to living in expensive, insecure private rented homes. This has left many facing impossible choices as they struggle to balance rent with other essential bills, or risk facing homelessness. NHF research from 2019 revealed that nearly half of children in private rented homes are living in poverty[ii].
Last year (2022/23), for every new social home built in England, six households were accepted as homeless by their local council[iii], while more children than ever before are living in temporary accommodation[iv]. This shameful trend is also putting local councils under increasing financial pressure with councils spending £1.74bn to support households in temporary accommodation in 2022/23[v]. This is only set to worsen, with recent research revealing that the number of children living in temporary accommodation is estimated to reach 150,000 by 2030[vi].
The widening gap between the demand for social housing and the availability of is not an anomaly in Bracknell. It is the result of decades of underfunding and underinvestment in affordable homes by successive governments, which in turn has led to a chronic shortage of social housing and contributed to the housing crisis we’re in today.
But this is a crisis that can be solved. Housing associations are ambitious to do more to tackle this crisis, but it will take a long-term commitment from local and national governments to address. With a long-term plan in place, by 2035 we could: fix child homelessness, halve overcrowding, provide the security of a social home for one million more people, ensure a warm and decent home for seven million more families, improve affordability, and boost productivity by ensuring every region has the homes it needs to grow.
The Abri group have development underway at five sites across Bracknell and surrounding areas including the redevelopment of 25 homes at Barn Close, 12 homes in Bucklers Park through a S106 with CALA, 4 homes at North Lodge Farm through a S106 with Elivia, and 13 homes in Coopers Hill through a partnership with Countryside.
Councillor Mary Temperton, Leader of Bracknell Forest Council, said:
“It’s crucial that the next government works with local authorities to implement a long-term plan for housing. The ability to live in safe, stable, and good quality accommodation is fundamental to people’s quality of life, opportunities and outcomes. “
[i] DLUHC, Social housing lettings in England, tenancies: April 2022-March 2023
[iii] National Housing Federation - New homeless households outnumber new social homes by six to one
[iv] DLUHC, Statutory Homelessness Statistics, July-September 2023
[vi] National Housing Federation - Nearly five million households will live in unaffordable homes by 2030