Strategic Housing Planning Process

Key Strategic Housing Objectives

How Barnsley Develops its Housing Strategy

Our Priorities for 2008 / 2011 amd 2011 / 2014

Background

The Council’s Strategic Housing Service aims to ensure that housing needs and aspirations are met by enabling access by all to a home that is well maintained, warm and affordable in a peaceful and secure environment.

The Strategic Housing Service is responsible for ensuring that the Council has in place long term plans for housing across the Borough. However, housing markets are no respectors of local authority boundaries. In recognition of this, resources to tackle a variety of housing issues have in recent years been distributed on a sub-regional basis. This shift in strategic focus to the sub-region means that the South Yorkshire (Sub-Regional) Housing Strategy 2008 -2018 and its associated investment plan is now the core framework within which housing policies to meet Barnsley’s particular requirements are developed.

The current strategy can be accessed by clicking on the link below:
South Yorkshire (Sub-Regional) Housing Strategy 2008 -2018

Housing strategy also has a regional dimension as set out in the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Housing Strategy 2005- 2021.

This set of housing strategy documents form the context within which policies are developed and implemented to address specific housing issues in the Borough.

During 2009 and into 2010 we will be developing a series of local housing action plans (covering specific areas of the Borough) to ensure that the sub-regional strategy has a local flavour and results in action on the ground that improves both housing and local communities.

It is likely that funding for housing investment will be constrained in the 2011/ 14 period. In late 2009 and early 2010 we will be undertaking “Single Conversation” discussions with the Homes and Communities Agency at both a local and sub-regional level to secure funding on the basis of an agreed housing investment plan. 

Key Strategic Objectives for Housing in the Borough.

(1) Balancing housing markets

We are confronted by a combination of weak or failing housing markets in some parts of the Borough whilst elsewhere (but especially in the rural west of the Borough) markets have over heated with the result that housing for many is now unaffordable, despite a recent downturn in the housing market.

Housing Regeneration activity is ongoing to strengthen some of the weaker markets. The ongoing Housing Market Renewal Programme in the Dearne Valley and the Green Corridor Programme in the North East of the Borough are helping to improve housing conditions and local environments. Over recent years the regeneration of housing in Grimethorpe and Kendray has been a central plank in the strengthening of those communities and plans are now being implemented to improve housing and the local environment on the New Lodge estate in Barnsley.

In many other parts of the Borough housing demand exceeds the supply of housing which has led to increasing problems of affordability for many. There is a need to increase the supply of new homes, including affordable housing to rent or buy. The supply of new affordable housing has for many years been provided through housing association housing developments but more is required. To this end the Council introduced its Affordable Housing Policy (in January 2007) which enables the provision of affordable housing through private housing developments. By increasing the provision of affordable housing more people will be able to obtain a home of their own and for some, take the first steps into home-ownership.

Barnsley, within the context of the Leeds City Region and the South Yorkshire sub-region, has acquired Housing Growth point status. Plans are currently being developed to increase the supply of housing in the Borough up to 2016/17.  The new housing will meet a range of housing needs and aspirations and will help to underpin the economic growth that is forecast for the Borough.

(2) Ensuring quality in housing provision

The Decent Homes programme (which is managed by Berneslai Homes  on behalf of the Council) continues to improve the quality of council houses throughout the Borough. Housing Associations  have there own arrangements for ensuring that their properties meet the Decent Homes standard.

In the private sector there are pockets of poor quality, often older housing which do not meet modern standards; the Council can provide some assistance to residents  in owner-occupation and private sector  landlords to improve their homes.
Growing concerns in recent years about environmental sustainability and global warming have resulted in an increased focus on the energy efficiency of housing. The Council participates in and helps to fund a number of schemes that provide assistance to householders to enable them to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
In regard to new housing we work closely with colleagues in Planning Services to ensure that housing developments are built in the correct places and to good design standards.

(3) Fair access to housing

It is important that the more vulnerable and often marginalised members of our communities also have access to good quality housing, sometimes of a more specialist nature, that promotes their independence.

The housing needs of older people are perhaps the most obvious example of the requirement for more specialist housing provision. An Extracare housing complex for older people was opened in Kendray in 2006, a second has opened more recently in Royston, a third is now under construction in Goldthorpe with a fourth planned for Hoyland. Berneslai Homes  and housing associations also provide a range a specialist accommodation for older people within the Borough.

Disability can often give rise to a particular set of housing needs. The Council may be able to provide assistance to convert existing homes in the private sector through its Disabled Facilities Grant programme. Berneslai Homes  run a similar scheme for council tenants, whilst housing associations tenants should contact their landlord for further information.

There are of course other vulnerable members of the community who need assistance to secure good quality housing and associated support services. We work closely with colleagues in Supporting People (Adult Social Services) and the Housing Association movement to ensure that their housing needs are identified and met in such a way as to maximize independent living.

How Barnsley Develops its Housing Strategy

Barnsley Council, develops its strategic housing requirements on a sub-regional basis jointly with the other 3 South Yorkshire Authorities – Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. The resultant South Yorkshire (sub-regional) Housing Strategy  and associated investment plan  (which prioritises funding across the various programmes), covers the period 2008 – 2018 and provides the context for funding bids and policy development to meet housing needs and aspirations across the Borough.

The South Yorkshire (sub-regional) Housing Strategy is refreshed on a 3-yearly cycle, this timeframe corresponding to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review cycles.

In Barnsley the South Yorkshire (sub-regional) Housing Strategy, together with the investment plan allocations that are eventually awarded by funding agencies, feed into an annual report called “The State of the Housing Market”. This report brings together the plans and programmes in the sub-regional strategy that are applicable to Barnsley. The report also provides the high level summary of a range of other strategies, plans and research in one document.

This is how it works:

In each year, of a 3 year cycle, the Housing Market Report contains core information, emerging issues, a high level action plan and our achievements from previous years.

The second year in the cycle contains new priorities which will feed into planning for the next housing strategy update. An updated version of the South Yorkshire (sub-regional) Housing Strategy will be available in early Spring 2010.

In this cycle (2009) – some of the key priorities which we will be seeking agreement on for inclusion as sub-regional priorities, include:-

• Increasing the range of choice of supported housing
• Continued regeneration in the Dearne Valley as we also look at opportunities to develop the area as a national example of eco-excellence
• Support for the Green Corridor villages at Royston, Carlton, Shafton and Grimethorpe
• Extending the range of supported housing across Barnsley – as well as improving supported housing and homelessness services
• Improving energy efficiency across all sectors
• Supporting our rural communities
• Making better use of the existing housing stock and how we bring back into use some of the empty private sector stock
• We recognise some ex Coal Board housing and neighbourhoods are in need of investment
• Strengthening work with private landlords in dealing with anti social tenants – whilst providing opportunities for support through an extension of landlord accreditation.
• Working with colleagues in Planning to take forward the Housing Growth agenda
• Ensuring Council Homes have a strong future through joint working with Berneslai Homes. We will be looking at how to improve homes and services even further here, whilst balancing the budget.
• We will also be working closely to improve our research and have clear information on the housing needs of each ward

The third year of the cycle (2010) will see programmes, initiatives and service improvement plans drawing to a conclusion. Any learning and ongoing programmes will feed into year one of the next 3-year cycle (2011 – 2014) alongside the new priorities arising from the updated South Yorkshire (sub-regional) Housing Strategy, as well as our funding priorities for the future. The "Single Conversation" process with the Homes and Communities Agency will be central to funding allocations for 2011/ 14. The 3-year cycle is illustrated in this diagram.

If you have any question please contact Strategic Housing on 01226 772742 or e mail strategichousing@barnsley.gov.uk

Our Priorities for 2008 / 2011

Housing Strategy planning works on a three year cycle.

Our priorities for the period 2008 / 2011 are set out in a range of documents; these include:

• Strategic Housing’s 3 yearly capital programmes for council housing and private sector housing
• Older Persons Strategy
• Supporting People Strategy
• Homelessness Strategy
• Berneslai Homes Delivery Plan
• Strategic Housing Research 

Our priorities are summarised in the annual State of the Housing Market report.

All of our initiatives and service improvements seek to meet our three key strategic objectives:-

• Balancing housing markets
• Making sure houses are of good quality in attractive neighbourhoods – this is part of our wider “Place Making” agenda
• Promoting inclusion and fair access to housing and housing services

To achieve this we are:-

Working with Berneslai Homes to improve services to Council Homes 

Continue to work with communities on regeneration schemes – in 2008 / 2011 these include:   

 

• Housing Market Renewal in the Dearne
• Green Corridor – Grimethorpe, Shafton, Brierley, Carlton and Royston
• New programmes at New Lodge and Worsbrough
• Targeted work near the Barnsley town centre in the Doncaster Road / Sheffield Road gateway

 

Improving the energy efficiency of homes across all tenures

Have developed and are implementing a strategy to reduce the number of private sector empty homes across the Borough

Delivering a programme of new affordable housing across Barnsley – with partner Housing Associations

To review our Affordable Housing Policy

Extending the range of choice of supported housing and supported housing services – in particular we will:

 

• Develop Extra Care schemes at Hoyland and Goldthorpe
• Provide new accommodation for people affected by substance misuse
• Continue to provide support across all tenures for families with disabilities
• Work with the private sector to provide more supported housing options
• Provide better housing for people leaving care
• Re-establish a Bond Guarantee Scheme
• Extend our Family Intervention Programme
• Extend services for homeless families
• Improve access via “move on” accommodation for vulnerable single people

 

Developing plans to extend provision of accommodation for the Gypsy and Traveller community

Continuing our rural housing programme

Delivering through Berneslai Homes the aim of making all Council homes meet the Government’s Decent Homes standard in 2010

Working with tenants and Berneslai Homes to examine options for the future long term funding of Council homes

Strengthening our accredited landlords’ scheme

Work with Planning Services on the housing growth agenda: Local Development Framework

 

Future details of specific programmes, strategies and services can be found elsewhere on this site, but if you need any advice, please contact Strategic Housing on 01226 772742 or e mail strategichousing@barnsley.gov.uk

 

 

Last modified on 1/3/2010