A Housing Strategy for Plymouth 2008 to 2011

The housing strategy sets out the strategic housing agenda and focus which is central to achieving Plymouth’s ambitions. It details our five key housing priorities and the actions we are taking to make Plymouth a better place to live.

Places and communities

Our priority for places and communities is concerned with narrowing the gap between neighbourhoods and help create places where people choose to live.

To achieve this we will:

• Regenerate priority neighbourhoods to deliver physical, social and economic improvements
• Deliver a neighbourhood management approach to improve quality of life in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods
• Strengthen community cohesion to enable different groups of people to get on well together

Affordable housing and housing needs

Our priority for increasing affordable housing will help meet our substantial housing needs and support the delivery of housing and economic growth.

To achieve this we will:

• Increase the supply and mix of new affordable housing to meet a range of housing needs and support the city’s growth agenda
• Improve the delivery of affordable housing through developer contributions to help create new mixed and sustainable communities
• Update and maintain housing market evidence to support housing strategies and plans and identify our housing needs

Housing choice

Our priority for housing choice is concerned with improving access to housing and ensuring that the housing and support needs of those that are most vulnerable are met.

To achieve this we will:

• Increase housing choice through letting arrangements to improve housing options and make best use of existing stock
• Prevent homelessness to avoid crisis housing solutions and offer housing and services to meet the multiple needs of homeless households
• Support independent living to provide appropriate housing and support for vulnerable households

Housing conditions in the private sector

Our priority to improve conditions in the private sector recognises that the city depends upon all housing to meet overall housing needs so we must invest in making existing and empty homes decent and energy efficient.

To do this we will:

• Raise the standard and improve the management of private sector homes to improve conditions and access to all tenures
• Provide an adaptation service to support independent living
• Bring empty properties back into use to reduce wasted housing resources
• Improve the energy efficiency of homes to reduce the number of households in fuel poverty

Landlord role and stock transfer

Our priority for the landlord role and stock transfer is to achieve decent homes across the council’s housing stock, improve services and participation for residents and tackle anti social behaviour.

To do this we will:

• Achieve the decent homes standard in Plymouth's social rented stock through stock transfer
• Provide excellent housing management services and address anti social behaviour to help create successful, safe and strong communities
• Increase resident participation and community involvement to improve service to our residents

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