Slough Borough Council has secured £10.5 million in Government funding to buy dozens of new homes as it looks to reduce its reliance on costly temporary accommodation.
The funding, awarded through the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF), will support the delivery of 58 homes over the next four years.
The council says the investment will provide more stable housing for homeless families while easing financial pressures caused by the growing demand for temporary accommodation.
The package includes £10.4 million in capital funding alongside a further £84,900 revenue grant, which can be used to manage and maintain the properties.
Of the 58 homes, 49 will be used as temporary accommodation for households facing homelessness.
The remaining nine properties will support refugees arriving through national resettlement programmes, including the Afghan resettlement scheme, as well as larger families requiring bigger homes.
To unlock the full Government grant, Slough Borough Council must match the funding by investing up to £10.4 million from its Housing Revenue Account disposals.
Speaking at a council meeting on July 30, councillors welcomed the investment, describing it as both financially responsible and socially important.
Councillor Iftakhar Ahmed, lead member for housing and homelessness, said the new homes would save the council an estimated £875,000 every year once all properties are in use.
He said demand for temporary accommodation in Slough remained extremely high and continued to place significant pressure on council finances.
“Buying these homes would reduce the council’s reliance on expensive private temporary accommodation, provide families with more suitable and stable homes and increase the council’s housing stock,” he said.
Councillor Gurcharan Manku described the funding as a “sensible investment” that would strengthen the council’s housing assets while helping families most in need.
He said residents wanted practical improvements to housing and public services rather than “political point scoring”.
Councillor Neel Rana added that the investment would not only save money in the long term but also improve living conditions for vulnerable residents.
“The quality of life for residents will improve by providing cleaner, safer and more affordable places for local homeless families,” he said.
The council will now begin identifying suitable properties before returning with further decisions on individual purchases.
