A £9 million housing project will enable displaced families from Ukraine and Afghanistan to move into new homes this week.
West Berkshire Council announced its intention to build 27 new homes for refugees who have arrived as part of the government’s resettlement programmes but do not have suitable accommodation. Seven houses and flats have been bought across the county so far.
Houses have been purchased in Calcot, Thatcham, Newbury, and Hungerford. The council also hopes to turn its former West Point House office in Newbury into apartments.
Denise Gaines, executive member for housing, stated:
“This scheme will help us to support vulnerable people who have moved to our district from areas of the world which are unsafe for them. It will allow them a place to settle and in time, as they move on, leave us with accommodation we can use to across our wider housing service.”
Gaines claimed the project was implemented due to central government funding, as well as financing from West Berkshire Council, and is “in addition to the support we already provide.”
It means we can help those arriving under settlement schemes without impacting on the services we provide for residents who need our help now or in the future.
The government has allocated £3.6 million to West Berkshire Council through the Local Authority Housing Fund, which helps councils support displaced families arriving in the UK.
Families from Ukraine began arriving in the UK after the war broke out in February 2022, while refugees from Afghanistan fled their country after the Taliban came to power in 2021.
