Consultation on the Draft Sandwell Housing Strategy 2023 - 2028
Residents are being asked for their views on Sandwell Council’s draft Housing Strategy. The consultation will run for a 6-week period from Wednesday 8 February until Wednesday 22 March 2023. There are two copies of the Strategy - one for partner organisations to comment on, and a shortened version for tenants and residents.
The document sets out the Council’s housing vision and ambitions for the 5-year period to the end of 2028.
Our draft strategy will help meet the needs identified in the Housing Needs Assessment, produced in 2022, which sets out the data and evidence of housing needs in Sandwell. But data and intelligence have to be coupled with the voice of our residents and we will be consulting widely on this draft before finalising the strategy for adoption in 2023.
The strategy identifies 5 priorities that are fundamental to delivering Quality Homes in Thriving Neighbourhoods:
- Providing more affordable homes
- Making the best use of the homes we have
- Quality housing for all
- Supporting people's health through housing
- Addressing climate change and fuel poverty
Comments are invited on the consultation by Wednesday March 22.
Why your views matter
Housing is something that impacts everybody; everyone needs somewhere to live and everyone has an opinion of what that should look like and how they can access it within their specific location. This strategy details how we intend to address the key housing challenges affecting our communities over the next 5 years. It sets out the Council’s priorities and objectives for meeting housing need and working with tenants and residents to build sustainable and cohesive communities across the borough.
Whilst stakeholders may have a view around what the priorities are and how to take these forward, it is really important that we have the perspectives of as many people as possible who live and work in Sandwell every day. We know that strategies as important as this one help to shape the housing market in the local authority. We want to make sure that everyone has had an opportunity to be part of shaping this with us and look forward to hearing from as many of you as possible.
What happens next
We be bringing forward the Housing Strategy for formal adoption by the Council in the late spring/early summer. Your reviews will help us to shape the priority pieces of work that are considered within the strategy. These will be collated anonymously and incorporated, information will be released publicly providing clarity around which comments have been accepted and which were not. The reasons why certain comments or changes will not be accepted, will be shared within the document.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the consultation, or need a copy of the Draft Housing Strategy and consultation survey in a different language or accessible format, please email housing_strategy@sandwell.gov.uk and we will respond as soon as possible.