Strategic housing

The strategic housing role is about using the full range of housing and land use planning powers available to local authorities. It also entails working with partners to meet the needs of all residents by ensuring the delivery of new and affordable housing while making the best use of existing stock.

The strategic housing role requires vision, leadership, planning and delivery to:

• assess and plan for current and future housing needs of the local population
• make the best use of existing housing stock
• plan and facilitate new supply
• plan and commission housing support services which link homes to the support and the services that people require in order to live in them
• have working partnerships that secure effective housing and neighbourhood management.

The Local Government White Paper, 'Strong and Prosperous Communities' and the Housing Green Paper, 'Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable' called on all local authorities to take a more strategic approach to housing as part of their place shaping role and to play a stronger role in addressing the housing needs of all residents.

By contributing to place shaping, strategic housing activity can help to deliver improved services (including health, education, social services); a safe environment; accessible transport; a strong sense of community; and a decent home for all at a price people can afford.

Key documents

'Strong and Prosperous Communities'  – Communities and Local Government website.
'Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable'  – Communities and Local Government website.