The first residents have received their keys for new affordable homes at Coopers Hill, the development delivering a total of 52 high-quality, sustainable homes in the heart of Bracknell.

The Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership, a joint-venture (JV) partnership between Countryside Partnerships (part of Vistry Group) and Bracknell Forest Council, has delivered its first affordable homes to their new residents, which will be owned and managed by affordable housing provider Abri.

Having started construction at the end of 2022 and completed the first homes in November 2023, the first affordable apartments have now been handed over. The 13 total affordable homes to be delivered will comprise two and three-bedroom homes, in a mixture of shared ownership and affordable rent, with the remaining areas of the Coopers Hill development expected to fully complete later this year.

Coopers Hill is the first site to be developed under the JV. This £131m partnership supports the council’s regeneration aspirations to provide a fully revitalised town centre, with large parts of Bracknell’s town centre already redeveloped, including the opening of The Lexicon shopping centre in 2017.

The handover of these homes follows the start of enabling work in February 2023 at Market Street, the Cambium Partnership’s second development, which will bring 169 mixed-tenure homes to the centre of Bracknell of which 81 homes will be affordable, making up 48 per cent of the total development. Abri will also be managing the 81 affordable homes there, which will be split between affordable rent and shared ownership.

Coopers Hill offers residents a friendly, established feel, with neat landscaping and safe pathways connecting the homes and surrounding areas. Public open space is being delivered on the site for all to enjoy, as well as a purpose-built pedestrian and cycle route which will improve connectivity into the town centre.

The homes at Coopers Hill have been built with sustainability at the forefront of design and are energy-efficient, with lower environmental impact and lower running costs through high-efficiency double glazing, excellent thermal performance and solar panels on the roofs of all apartment buildings. Sustainable travel lies at the heart of the scheme too, through 122 dedicated cycle parking bays and electric vehicle charging points.

Coopers Hill is situated to the south of Bracknell town centre and is a short walking distance from The Lexicon, which offers shopping, restaurants, bars and leisure facilities.

Daniel King, Managing Director of Vistry West London, said: “As the first of our regeneration projects with Bracknell Forest Council, handing over the first affordable homes at Coopers Hill is a proud moment for everyone involved in the partnership. At Coopers Hill we have transformed a brownfield site into an attractive new community, as part of the Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership’s ambition to deliver much-needed new homes for the local community.

“These high-quality, energy-efficient homes will make a real difference to residents’ lives, and we’re excited to continue playing our part in Bracknell’s transformation at Market Street, where the affordable housing agreement with Abri has also been signed.”

Cllr Paul Bidwell, Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration at Bracknell Forest Council, commented: “We know we need more affordable housing for local people and so it’s great to see residents picking up their keys for their new eco-friendly and affordable home at Coopers Hill.

“This is just the first site that we’re regenerating together and we aim to provide more and more affordable homes for local people over the next couple of years. This approach not only ensures we are redeveloping disused and unsightly brownfield sites in the town centre but are also creating sustainable and affordable communities at the same time”.

Tom Mason, Regional Assistant Director at Abri commented: “It’s a proud moment to see the finished homes and knowing that they will have such a positive impact on the community. Working together with Bracknell Forest Council and Countryside we’re helping to make sure more people have access to good quality, sustainable homes that are affordable.

“Abri is committed to delivering 10,000 homes by 2030 and working in partnership is vital to achieving this goal and delivering the best outcomes for our communities. These homes will make such a difference and we look forward to welcoming customers in the coming weeks.”