Housing Strategy/Research
A housing strategy provides a framework for housing activities and considers issues such as:
- the balance between housing needs and supply
- the local housing market
- local housing conditions
- what local action should be taken
The current housing strategy document for South Northamptonshire Council is Housing Strategy 2005 - 2010.
There are 6 key priorities at the heart of the Strategy which aim to:
- increase the supply of affordable housing
- promote access to housing and tackle homelessness through improved access to information and advice
- maintain and improve condition of housing
- work towards meeting the needs of vulnerable people
- provide a customer focused service for those in housing need
- take a pro-active approach to developing and sustaining safer, warmer and healthier communities
The current housing strategy contains an action plan to work with parish councils to assess types and levels of housing need, by carrying out parish level housing need surveys.
Research is currently being undertaken to provide a new housing strategy for the 2012-17 period, which will address policy changes introduced by the UK government from May 2010.
Housing Research
The Strategic Housing Team are involved with producing and updating the evidence bases for housing needs.
South Northants District evidence
West Northamptonshire evidence
Other evidence
The Council has worked in conjunction with Cherwell District Council and West Oxfordshire Council to assess the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers in the area.
- Gypsy and Traveller Housing Needs Assessment 2013 - Executive Summary
- Gypsy and Traveller Housing Needs Assessment 2013 - Full Report
Tenancy Strategy
The Localism Act 2011 requires all local authorities to have a Tenancy Strategy in place to guide Registered Providers on formulating their own policies in terms of the kinds of tenancies they will grant, how long the tenancy will last and whether the tenancy will be renewed.
The Council adopted its Tenancy Strategy in December 2012 and it includes guidance on the provision of the new tenure introduced by government called Affordable Rent and also the use of new flexibilities allowing Registered Providers to offer fixed term tenancies as an alternative to lifetime tenancies. The adopted strategy is available to download below