Executive considered a detailed report presented by the Portfolio Holder for Housing in relation to the Council’s Housing Strategy which had been reviewed and updated.
The revised Housing Strategy 2024/29 formed a plan on how the Council would work with partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors to enable housing growth across all sectors, and the quality and range of housing to meet resident’s needs in the District including housing and support for the most vulnerable. The Strategy would also have a key role in helping to secure potential external funding for housing related projects across the District.
Within the new Strategy, corporate priorities relating to the Housing aim as set out in the Council’s new corporate plan, would be carried forward.
With regard to the consultation carried out, there were 56 respondents in total - 50% were owner occupiers, 20% Council tenants, and 14% private tenants. A limited response was received from parish councils and responses were not received from all of the District’s wards. The questions asked and the full range of responses were set out in Appendix 2 to the report including the full set of results.
The Government had recently carried out a consultation on potential changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which included amendments to the calculation of the local housing need using the standard method. As part of the consultation, draft local housing need figures for all local planning authorities were produced utilising the proposed changes to the standard method and for Bolsover District, a draft local housing need of 404 dwellings per annum was identified. This was significantly more than the current Local Plan requirement of 272 dwellings per annum. If the proposed changes to the standard method were implemented, there would be implications for the local housing need requirement set out in the proposed Housing Strategy.
The Local Housing Needs Assessment had been extended to reflect the implications arising from the proposed changes to the standard method set out in the NPPF consultation. The initial evidence from the Assessment is that there remained a high level of need for affordable housing with an emphasis on rented affordable housing rather than affordable home ownership.
Members expressed their thanks to the Housing team and noted a lot of work had gone in to producing the Strategy.
Moved by Councillor Sandra Peake and seconded by Councillor Duncan McGregor
RESOLVED that the outcome of the public consultation be noted,
RECOMMENDED that Council approve the Housing Strategy 2024/29.
Reasons for Recommendation
The Housing Strategy forms part of the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework and was considered a key strategic driver for the future of the District.
Alternative Options and Reasons for Rejection
The alternative option was to not have a Housing Strategy; however, this was rejected as the Strategy set out a clear housing plan which would be a key driver for housing growth in the District.