“"We have made it clear that housing is a top priority and we want more local, affordable homes for local people. This is a significant first step towards the council becoming a social housing provider. It doesn’t mean that we will have new houses for local people and families overnight, but it does mean that we are starting the groundwork to see what options and funding is available to us for the future. The number of affordable and socially rented homes we have in Bracknell Forest does not match the current demand and so we are taking positive steps to see how the council can control and directly influence how new affordable homes are built, managed and maintained. We will still work with developers and housing associations but in the long-term this could generate more homes for local people to live in at an affordable or social rent."
Bracknell Forest Council Takes First Step Towards Social Housing Provision
Cabinet agrees to register with Regulator of Social Housing and seeks government funding for future affordable homes.
By Laura Medhurst
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a modern council building facade with large windows and some greenery.
Bracknell Forest Council has taken a crucial first step this week towards becoming a social housing provider, with the cabinet agreeing to register with the Regulator of Social Housing.
At a meeting on Tuesday 3 November, the cabinet also noted the council's application to Homes England for £500,000 from the Council Housebuilding Support Fund. This funding, if approved, will support initial work to explore how the council can increase its role in creating and overseeing social housing locally.
This agreement positions the council to pursue government grants for affordable homes and consider owning or developing properties to meet local needs. While not a direct approval for a housebuilding programme, it opens the door for future possibilities. Currently, the council collaborates with housing providers and developers, but becoming a registered provider offers an additional avenue to build and manage affordable or socially rented homes within the borough.
Homes will be allocated according to the Bracknell Forest housing policy, which requires a two-year residency in the borough to be eligible for the waiting list. The policy prioritises existing residents in housing need, including those in overcrowded households, care leavers, veterans, and individuals with medical needs. As of August 2026, there were 1,017 households in need of housing, with 961 homes expected to become available over the next three years, highlighting a significant demand-supply gap.
Detailed options are anticipated for discussion by the cabinet in early 2027. Any proposal to purchase, build, own, or manage homes will require a separate decision, supported by a comprehensive business case. The council has applied for up to £500,000 over two years from the Homes England Council Housebuilding Support Fund to support the necessary expertise and preparatory work. Additionally, the cabinet agreed to return £2.86 million, originally allocated to an eight-home affordable housing scheme that the housing provider could no longer deliver, to the council’s fund for future affordable housing projects. This money, derived from developer contributions, remains ring-fenced for affordable housing.
Based on information from the official source: Bracknell Forest Council (04/11/2026)
