Peterborough City Council's Cabinet will be
asked to approve a draft housing strategy which will look to
support the city's growth agenda, secure regeneration and
improvements to existing housing and meet existing and future
housing needs.
Residents are invited to hear Cabinet discuss
the draft Peterborough Housing Strategy 2011 to 15 at its meeting
in the Bourges/Viersen Room at the Town Hall, Bridge Street,
Peterborough, on Monday 7 November 2011 at 10am.
The strategy includes four priority areas:
supporting the delivery of substantial yet sustainable growth;
securing the regeneration and improvements to Peterborough's
housing stock; meeting existing and future housing needs; and
encouraging the development of mixed and sustainable
communities.
The strategy looks to ensure that growth is
both sustainable and to high environmental standards. Key areas
include maximising the supply of affordable homes, ensuring there
is a supply of suitable accommodation for Peterborough's growing
student population, tackling empty homes, addressing serious
disrepair and improving living conditions in private housing and
maximising the energy efficiency of existing homes. The strategy
also makes a commitment to ensure that new housing developments are
planned and managed to ensure a sense of community, and looks to
prevent and alleviate homelessness and rough sleeping in
Peterborough.
The draft strategy also includes a Strategic
Tenancy Policy which outlines what the council expects from housing
associations, including guidance on the minimum length of tenancy
agreements and the appropriate cap for rent levels for homes let as
'affordable rent'.
Councillor Marco Cereste, Leader of the city
council and Cabinet Member for Growth, Strategic Planning, Economic
Development and Business Engagement, said: "The draft housing
strategy is a crucial document for this city and will benefit
everyone who lives in Peterborough now and in the future. It
outlines the approach and future vision the city will take to meet
its existing and future needs.
"We have ambitions growth plans to create a
bigger and better Peterborough and good quality housing is
fundamental to this vision. Providing good quality affordable
housing, ensuring all new and existing homes are as energy
efficient as possible and making the most of our existing homes are
all key areas which this draft housing strategy incorporates."
If the draft housing strategy is approved by
Cabinet at its meeting on Monday 7 November 2011, a four week
public consultation will begin on Monday 14 November 2011.
Ends.
Additional information:
- All councils are required by law to produce a housing strategy,
which sets out their housing plans during the lifetime of the
policy. Peterborough City Council's current policy expires in
2011.
- Research has taken place into existing and likely future levels
and types of housing need and demand in Peterborough. These studies
have helped to shape the strategy. The city council has also worked
with a range of partners including the NHS, private developers,
housing associations and private landlords to draw up the
strategy.