Leeds City Council has launched a new housing strategy which sets out its ambitions for investment in affordable homes and working in partnership in the city to meet housing needs up to 2027.
The strategy’s main ambition is to ensure the provision of high-quality affordable homes in thriving and inclusive communities, with the support services and facilities needed by tenants and residents.
Since the last housing strategy was developed in 2016, lots of progress has been made with significant investment made into the delivery of new affordable homes; improvements made to the energy efficiency of existing homes; reductions to the number of people experiencing homelessness and preventing and minimising temporary homelessness. While this is all positive news, the new housing strategy aims to build on this success and further work towards tackling poverty and inequality and improving the quality of life for everyone who calls Leeds home.
There will be an increased focus on supporting the three pillars in the council’s Best City Ambition – improving the city’s health and wellbeing, supporting inclusive growth and being a carbon neutral city by 2030.
A full copy of the strategy can be found here.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for environment and housing, said:
“We have seen significant progress made since the last strategy was developed in 2016 with huge investment going into the social housing stock to maintain and improve quality and make homes more energy efficient.
“The council has been recognised for its successful work, in conjunction with partners, in tackling homelessness and rough sleeping.”
“Communities are being given a bigger say in how they develop and evolve and we are in a strong position; we have excellent relationships with partners, stakeholders and tenants. But there is always more to be done.
“The Covid pandemic highlighted inequalities in a wide range of areas – health, education, transport and connectivity, quality employment and safe, strong communities. Each of these is directly affected by the city’s housing sector. As well as this, the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower has highlighted the need to ensure our housing stock is safe.
“In these next five years, the Leeds Strategic Housing Partnership will continue to work to address all of these issues”
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said:
“The climate crisis and the cost-of-living crisis are two of the biggest issues affecting our city right now and so we must continue investing in housing that is affordable, well-insulated, energy efficient and cheaper than average to run.
“We are making significant progress with several schemes in the city which are all working towards improving insulation in some of our coldest properties and over time, these will all work towards us achieving our carbon ambitions by 2030.
“The council and registered provider partners are leading the way in the delivery of new affordable and sustainable homes which are being provided in increasing numbers, incorporating green technologies, with recent years seeing an increase in the number of homes provided. Further growth is projected over the next three years as the council has the ambition to build 1,500 new council homes by 2025.”
