Swindon Borough Council could soon give its social housing stock a much-needed boost, as Cabinet members prepare to consider the purchase of 66 brand-new homes in Moredon.
The proposal, set to be debated at the Cabinet meeting on 9 July, would see the Council acquire a range of one to four-bedroom properties being built by developer Keepmoat Limited. These homes form part of a planned housing development next to the new Moredon Sporting Hub.
The opportunity has arisen after Keepmoat’s initial plan to sell the homes to a major social housing provider fell through. Planning permission for the site is already in place, and Keepmoat was due to buy the land from the Council, with proceeds from the sale intended to help fund the sporting hub.
Should councillors give the green light, officers would begin negotiations with Keepmoat to finalise terms for the deal. Funding for the acquisition would come from a blend of Right to Buy receipts, grants from Homes England, and borrowing through the Council’s Housing Revenue Account, which is used solely for managing council housing.
The proposal comes as welcome news, with council officers highlighting the opportunity to expand Swindon’s affordable housing stock at a time when new supply is expected to decline significantly. Over the next three to five years, changes in the market mean many social housing providers will prioritise improving existing properties over building new homes.
Council data on current housing waiting lists and future demand suggest that the mix of one, two, three, and four-bed homes at Moredon will match local needs well.
Councillor Janine Howarth, Cabinet Member for Housing, stressed the importance of seizing this opportunity: “One of the key priorities in our Swindon Plan is to ensure everyone has a decent home. This chance to add good-quality, modern, affordable homes to our portfolio is something I will be urging my colleagues to support wholeheartedly next week.
“We know new affordable homes will be harder to come by in the coming years, so securing these 66 properties now would make a real difference for tenants and families in need of housing in the future.”
If Cabinet members approve the proposal, Keepmoat expects to complete construction of the 66 homes by early 2027, providing a timely addition to Swindon’s social housing options.
