Published on
11 September 2025
Land sale to provide affordable housing and boost council finances
Care home no longer proposed at Toutley East after suitable provision secured elsewhere, with new proposal set to benefit residents and meet housing need
A site on the outskirts of Wokingham is set to be sold in a multi-million pound deal to secure affordable, sustainable housing and generate income to fund the council’s services.
The 7.7-hectare plot off Twyford Road, east of Toutley Road depot, could be developed for up to 160 environmentally-friendly homes for local people - including those in greatest need.
Outline planning permission was granted in 2022 for up to 130 residential units and a 68-bed dementia care home on the site, known as Toutley East.
Since then, the council has increased care provision by acquiring and investing in care homes like Bluebell House in Wokingham town and The Hollies at Burghfield Common.
With this provision now in place, it now intends to provide additional homes on land at Toutley East that was originally intended for the care home.
Providing a suitable home for everyone
Up to 43 per cent of the proposed development, about 67 homes, could be affordable.
This could include specialist units housing adult social care users or young people leaving the care system, which is a priority for the council.
The new homes would also have to meet stringent environmental and energy standards, in line with the council’s climate emergency goals and the policies of its emerging new Local Plan.
These state that all new residential development must be designed and built to run on a zero-carbon basis.
If approved, the development would form part of the major new community at North Wokingham, and would help meet the council’s housing provision targets.
A sensible way to meet residents’ needs
Cllr Stephen Conway, the leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said: "We’ve been facing serious and ongoing financial challenges for many years, like all councils, but we’re still committed to being there for the people who need us most.
"This proposal will help us meet that commitment on two fronts: firstly, it will provide housing for local residents, including those who need an extra level of support, while meeting the highest environmental standards for many years to come.
"At the same time, it will secure much-needed income to relieve pressure on our services and ensure we continue to help others in need elsewhere in the borough.
"Our financial position is thankfully more secure than many other councils, due to our long history of strong financial management, but we still have to do all we can to responsibly maximise our income.
"This proposal for Toutley East, which is supported by professional advice and expert assessment of the market, represents a sensible, lower-risk approach which still gives us control over the final outcome."
Next steps proposed once final decision made
The site will be sold using a framework set by Homes England, the Government's housing and regeneration agency, with expressions of interest sought this month and formal offers expected by the end of the year.
A preferred buyer should be identified in early 2026, with a planning application for new development expected to follow in the spring and the sale to complete in the autumn.
Any planning application will be subject to public consultation and the developer will have to make contributions to local infrastructure.
A full update will be presented to the council’s decision-making executive for a final decision on Thursday 18 September.
The council faces greatest pressure from services that residents rely on most, like care for adults and children including support for older people, vulnerable adults and children with special educational needs.
It continues to lobby the Government for a fairer deal on how councils are funded, as Wokingham Borough is currently the lowest-funded unitary authority per resident in the country.
