POPULAR AFFORDABLE BRACKNELL DEVELOPMENT HOLDS STAKEHOLDER EVENT

Leading shared ownership provider SO Resi is celebrating the success of its popular Berkshire development, SO Resi Bracknell, having held an event to launch its new podium area on Monday, 31st July. To commemorate the occasion, the Mayor, local councillors, and representatives from Homes England joined colleagues from award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group and SO Resi to discuss the progress of the development and the delivery of affordable housing in Bracknell.

The day allowed for key stakeholders from Homes England and Bracknell Forest Council to learn about the success of the development and future plans for the site, and the opportunity to ask any questions they may have. The day ended with representatives from SO Resi and Hill hosting guided tours to view the apartments available for shared ownership and affordable rent.

With the official launch of the site last year, Bracknell has boosted its affordable housing, with 129 one and two-bedroom apartments starting from £73,750 for a 25% share. Located just a two-minute walk from Bracknell railway station, SO Resi Bracknell is ideally located for those returning to their city offices, with London Waterloo under an hour’s commute away. For those embarking on travel further afield, Heathrow is just a 30-minute drive away, connecting residents to cities internationally.

Kevin Sims, Director of Sales & Marketing at SO Resi, comments: “SO Resi Bracknell has been a hugely exciting development for us, from the moment the land was acquired up until now launching our podium to key stakeholders and our first set of residents poised to move in over the summer.

“On behalf of SO Resi, we would like to thank all the stakeholders who came along on the day and took an interest in this hugely exciting site. It was insightful to see the sort of questions that were asked and showcase how SO Resi can make a difference to communities such as Bracknell.

“We are seeing time and time again that prospective buyers are fed up with renting but feel priced out of these commuter hotspots. With recent data from Rightmove confirming that asking rents have hit a record high in 2023[1] and renters are having to battle out against, on average, 20 people for a property[2], SO Resi Bracknell gives people that opportunity to invest in their ideal location and start their homeownership journey without the stress of saving up for an extortionate deposit, which, for many people, is currently unattainable.”

Ryan Harris, Regional Director from The Hill Group, comments: “Bracknell has been an extremely successful development, and we are delighted to have worked with our partners to deliver much-needed, high-quality affordable homes for the local community. Working alongside SO Resi, we were pleased to welcome key stakeholders to view the new podium area and provide an insight into this significant affordable housing scheme.”

Bracknell itself is seeing an investment of almost a billion pounds into its local community, supporting leisure and education ventures for the residents, including The Lexicon shopping and leisure centre and a £30m upgrade of Princess Square.[3] The area is also home to the much-loved South Hill Park, an intimate theatre which plays host to touring professional theatre productions and comedians, a cinema, a dance studio, an art gallery, and a cabaret bar.

The Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest, Councillor Naheed Ejaz, concludes: “As the Mayor of Bracknell Forest, I like to make sure I engage in everything happening in our community, especially such a significant project such as SO Resi Bracknell. To be able to see such a great investment for the first time was invaluable, and it was vital to be able to network with those from SO Resi and Hill on the day. As an increasingly popular town and place for young people to live, delivering affordable homes is something we desperately need, and it is fully welcomed in the area. I’d like to say a big thank you to SO Resi and Hill for inviting us along, and I look forward to seeing the development all the way through to completion.”

The apartments will be available through shared ownership, enabling buyers to purchase a minimum share of 25%, with just a five per cent deposit. Buyers can gradually increase their share in the future through a process known as staircasing.

All apartments at SO Resi Bracknell feature a private balcony or terrace. For residents seeking to explore further afield, Swinley Forest, covering over 2,600 acres, is only a 16-minute cycle ride away, offering an array of diverse activities including horse riding and mountain bike trails for residents to enjoy.

For more information on SO Resi Bracknell, visit www.soresi.co.uk or call 020 8607 0550.

[1] https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/rental-price-tracker/

[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66246223

[3] https://metro.co.uk/2022/02/01/these-regenerated-towns-will-be-next-property-hotspots-for-commuters-16024544/