Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet asked to approve new Housing Strategy

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet will be asked to approve a new Housing Strategy for the Borough at the Cabinet meeting of 12th March.

The Housing Strategy sets out the Council’s vision and priorities for housing in the Borough for the next ten years. It also outlines the key issues affecting the local housing market and what the Council intends to do to help overcome these challenges and create the right conditions to improve the housing landscape for residents in the borough.

The strategy has been produced with feedback from key partners including health, care, housing associations, developers, charities, and Cheshire Police. The public were invited to have their say on the draft strategy over a 12-week consultation which closed in November. The feedback received has helped to influence the strategy.

The vision for the strategy is to ensure we have the right homes in the right place by enabling a range of good quality, affordable housing and support that meets the needs of residents in Cheshire West and Chester.

The strategy will cover all sectors of the housing market including social rents, the private rental sector, and owner occupation, as well as specialist housing provision for older people and adults with additional needs. The strategy sets out how the Council intends to work with its partners to achieve three key priorities for housing in the borough over the next ten years:

• Support that enables residents to access the right home and live well.
• Homes that are fit for now and ready for the future.
• Affordable homes of all tenures across the borough.

Cllr Christine Warner, Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, said:

“Housing is a key priority for the Council. There are significant challenges around affordability, homelessness, caring for looked after children and young people as well as our ageing population, mitigating climate change and ensuring that working-age people and families can afford to live and work in the borough to support economic growth. This strategy seeks to address these challenges. We want to make sure that everyone has access to good quality, safe and affordable housing in neighbourhoods that are thriving, vibrant places to live.

“Housing influences so many areas of people’s lives, an affordable home can help people to live well alongside work, education and leisure opportunities. The strategy recognises that our residents have different housing needs, and this may change throughout their lives. It covers everything from social housing, renting, and provision for people with additional needs. I would like to thank all those who took the time to share their views on the strategy. Working with partners, we are confident that this strategy will help the borough to tackle the housing challenges, working towards housing that provides for everyone and ensure homes are fit for the future."

For more information on housing in Cheshire West and Chester, visit the Council website:

Housing | Cheshire West and Chester Council