I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I would like to request the following information in relation to the Molly Millars Lane / Finchampstead Road roundabout expansion project (also referred to as the Western Gateway works), scheduled between July 2025 and April 2026:

1. A full breakdown of the funding sources for the roundabout expansion project, including but not limited to:
Council capital funding allocations;
Central government grants;
Homes England funding;
Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds;
Section 106 developer contributions;
Any other public or private funding sources.
Please include, where available:
The amount contributed by each source;
Any conditions attached to the funding;
Relevant budget approvals or committee reports referencing the funding.
The ‘roundabout expansion project’ known as Western Gateway forms part of delivery of the wider South Wokingham Distributor Road (SWDR) project. Funding and costs from the delivery contract do not consider Western Gateway costs in isolation as preliminaries and contracted staff costs are spread across the wider project.

The SWDR project overall will be funded by a combination of Capital funding, CIL, Section 106 contributions, and assisted by a forward funded loan from Homes England. The project and its capital funding continue to be referenced in the Councils Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), published annually, and considered at its meeting of the Full Council in February each year. A link to the Full Council meetings, agenda & minutes are available here https://wokingham.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=131

Wokingham Borough Council has entered into an agreement with Homes England to provide a £29.6 million grant which provides advanced funding to help deliver the SWDR project. The remaining balance of the construction cost will be funded from CIL and Section 106 contributions. Once the full cost of construction is funded via those sources further CIL and Section 106 funding will be used to repay the grant funding loan to Homes England. The exact values of both CIL and Section 106 receipts are subject to variance depending on when the actual payment is made to the Council and the application of indexation due to late payment.

Our CIL and Section 106 funds and funding sources are due to be published by the Council at a date soon. In accordance with Section 22 we will not be providing data at this time.

The Grant Funding Agreement with Homes England is designated as commercially sensitive and so cannot be released. In accordance with Section 43(2) this information is commercially sensitive.

2. Information relating to 81 Finchampstead Road, RG41 2PE, insofar as it relates to the roundabout expansion, including:
The identity of the previous owner immediately prior to the council’s acquisition (or acquisition by any public body acting in connection with this project): This information is publicly accessible in accordance with Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It can be obtained from HM Land Registry
The date of acquisition: 01/10/2020.
The purchase price paid: Our Highways Major Schemes Manager can confirm this was £800,000 and that the information is already in the public domain.
The mechanism by which the land was acquired (e.g., private treaty purchase, compulsory purchase order, land swap, or other arrangement): It was purchased by voluntary agreement which is commonly referred to as private treaty.
Copies of any compulsory purchase order documentation, agreements for sale, or related committee decisions authorising the acquisition: The private treaty is commercially sensitive in accordance with Section 43(2). Any committee decision related to this matter pre-dates the Major Schemes Manager joining Wokingham Borough Council but would be publicly available on Modern Gov. He is seeking confirmation from others, and we will send a follow up next week.