Members of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee will be told that over 170 additional homes for affordable rent were delivered in 2023/24.

The LHS for 2022-2027 sets out the vision, policies and plans that will enable the council and its community partners to continue the delivery of high-quality housing and housing services for local people. It is an ambitious plan, setting out what homes and communities should look and feel like over the next five years.

The progress report to be considered by the committee outlines a range of achievements made over the last 12 months across identified priority areas, including:

• The delivery of 174 affordable homes including 141 for social rented housing and 33 for mid-market rent. This includes 40 council new build homes and the completion of 65 new build affordable homes in partnership with RSL partners across five developments.
• The council bought back 48 ex-council homes to increase the council’s housing stock.
• 20 empty homes were provided for people in need of accommodation through the Empty Homes Initiative.
• A total of 2,635 households were supported to sustain their tenancy during the cost-of-living crisis through a Tenancy Sustainment Fund, Financial Inclusion Project and Think Yes budget.
• The council continued to deliver sector-leading outcomes for people experiencing homelessness, despite increase demand.
• The council invested £725,000 to carry out 369 minor adaptations and 108 major adaptations for tenants, allowing people to live independently at home for longer.
• The council’s work with SCARF to deliver its Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) service, provided free energy efficiency advice to 2,205 households which resulted in savings for residents, reductions in carbon emissions and removed some residents from fuel poverty.

The report also sets out what the council’s priorities will be for the coming year, including the continued delivery of 1,050 new homes by 2027.

Members of the committee will be asked to note the progress made in 2023/24 and approve the list of priorities set out for the next 12 months.