A STRATEGY that seeks to help more young people get on the property ladder locally has been unanimously approved by councillors.

This paper sets out the council’s affordable housing objectives until 2026, which includes adding more homes as well as affordable and social rented houses, and work with developers to make these future dwellings carbon neutral.

It also seeks to help young people get on the property ladder as the report states the average house price in the Royal Borough is approximately £476,000 – 15 times higher than the average UK salary.

Presenting the report at a full council meeting on Tuesday, June 29, councillor Ross McWilliams, lead member for housing (Con: Cox Green), said the borough needs to “improve” their housing market as it’s “not working” for some residents.

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He said: “I see far too many cases, particularly during Covid-19, where so-called ‘households within households’ are collapsing under the stress of the pandemic.

“We need more homes that are genuinely affordable to local people that are born and raised in RBWM [Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead], as well as building those homes that bring in people to the borough and want to add their skills and passion to our wonderful area.”

Other priorities the strategy seeks to tackle is retrofitting existing council homes with zero-carbon technologies, ensure they are accessible for people with disabilities, include super-fast broadband, and seek appropriate sites for gypsies and travellers.

While the paper was largely welcomed by opposition members, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, councillor Simon Werner (Pinkneys Green) said it was “disappointing” to see there was a “lack of targets” in the paper in terms of how many affordable homes need to be built within the borough.

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He also called it more of a “position” paper rather than a strategy.

In summing up, Cllr McWilliams said this paper is a further document in committing their aims and objectives of achieving the affordable housing and social rent target as set out in the borough local plan (BLP).

Meanwhile, councillor Julian Sharpe (Con: Ascot & Sunninghill) feared the BLP may have to be changed in order to accommodate these changes.

It was heard the BLP is “set in stone” and cannot be changed.

Despite a few concerns, councillors unanimously approved the housing strategy.