We're making Wokingham Borough a great place to live
Politics - at local and national levels - can involve a lot of responding to events outside your control. But we must do more than just react - we must have a clear sense of what we want to achieve.The Liberal Democrat administration at Wokingham Borough Council has a clear strategic objective which drives what we do.
We want to help create truly inclusive communities, where everyone has the chance to thrive. Inclusive communities are happier, more successful, and more prosperous communities. Everyone wants and deserves the chance to contribute, to play their part.
By helping everyone to live their best possible lives we can help people fulfil their potential. And the whole community wins when the talent in our midst is given the opportunity to grow and achieve – in business, in our schools and across society.
Our leadership of Wokingham Borough Council is driven by our desire to create truly inclusive societies where everyone can thrive and the whole community benefits.
Select from our priorities below to find out what we've already done and what we plan to do next:
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We're bringing more and better affordable homes to the Borough.
What we’ve already delivered:
- Increased the affordable housing target in the new Local Plan to 40% on major developments (up from 35%)
- Set a target that 70% of affordable homes should be social housing
- Built more high-quality, energy-efficient council homes at Gorse Ride in Finchampstead
- Delivered new specialist housing, including:
- Seaford Court – new accommodation for care leavers
- Supported living homes in Woodley for young disabled residents
- Protected over 100 new green spaces in the Local Plan
- Introduced strong energy efficiency standards so new homes are cheaper to run
What we'll do next:
- Deliver the full regeneration of Gorse Ride by 2028
- Partner with community groups to deliver high-quality social and affordable homes
- Ensure new developments include sustainable transport and safe layouts
- Protect our borough from speculative, unplanned development
- Deliver affordable homes that are warm, low-carbon and built to last
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We're championing safe and sustainable travel.
What we’ve already delivered:
- An 8% increase in the roads maintenance budget for 2026/7
- A long-term plan to improve local transport - however you travel - for people, the economy and the environment
- Launched the “Safer Streets” programme to protect those most at risk on our roads
- Invested in bus services, including more buses on key routes such as the Leopard 3 between Wokingham, Barkham, Finchampstead and Arborfield Green)
- Extended the timings for disabled bus passes to help people travel to work
- Innovation to get the most from our roads funding, reducing potholes and enhancing safety
What we'll do next:
- Invest an extra £5.5M in improving our roads, pavements, cycleways and drainage over the next 3 years
- Set safer speed limits in residential neighbourhoods, town and village centres and rural roads across the borough, responding to your priorities
- Make train stations more accessible, with better car parking, buses, and cycle security Deliver hundreds more EV charging points
- Make walking, cycling and buses realistic travel choices for local journeys, reducing congestion and improving the environment
- Create safer routes for school travel
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We're providing more local provision for Children with Special Educational Needs.
What we’ve already delivered:
- Opened two new specialist SEND units: One at Loddon Primary School and The Lilypad at Radstock Primary School for children aged 4-11 with autism and additional needs
- Confirmed three new SEND units at Walter Infant, St Paul’s Junior and Winnersh Primary – adding 40 places
- Secured £13 million government funding for a new special free school at Rooks Nest Farm (opening planned for 2028)
- Delivered supported living homes for young disabled residents
And 98% of secondary school entrants got into one of their preferred schools in both 2025 and 2026 - the best ever in Wokingham Borough!
What we'll do next:
- Deliver the new special free school in 2028
- Open a post-16 SEND hub at the former library on Denmark Street - offering core subjects, vocational training and independent living skills
- Continue expanding local SEND provision to reduce out-of-borough placements
- Increase specialist support in mainstream schools
- Improve early intervention through Best Start family hubs
- Ensure SEND services are financially sustainable while improving outcomes
Our record since 2022
Under Liberal Democrat leadership, Wokingham Borough Council has:
- Delivered more affordable housing
- Improved road safety
- Expanded SEND provision
- Protected green spaces
- Improved care services
- Kept the council afloat under continued government funding cuts, whilst councils around us struggle
Our Promise
We'll:
- Help those who need it most
- Listen and work with you
- Create a thriving, greener future
- Fight for Wokingham to get the fair deal it deserveA Liberal Democrat controlled council will allow us to continue our work, helping those who need it most, working as a community, and ultimately creating a thriving, greener future for everyone who lives here.
We've achieved a lot in a short time and have the energy, enthusiasm and experience to continue.
Please back us so that we can continue our work to make Wokingham Borough a great place to live.
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