Housing strategy - Delivering change
Summary
The housing strategy for 2006 to 2010 identifies the key
priorities which the Council will address. It sets out coherent
action across all housing tenures to change local housing markets
to ensure they meet the borough’s future housing requirements.
The overarching principle of the housing service is that
everyone has the right to a suitable, affordable, warm and dry
home.
As a strategic housing authority we seek to maintain across the
borough a reasonable range and choice of appropriate, quality
housing in all tenures for residents irrespective of their age,
race, gender or financial means.
Delivering change - Our
housing strategy - complete document (1.5Mb pdf file)
Transforming our area
Rochdale is a borough with a lot going for it.
Situated within beautiful countryside it boasts excellent motorway
links to Leeds and Manchester. However the borough also contains
some of the poorest communities in the UK and much of the housing
does not meet modern needs.
There is simply not enough housing of the right size, type and
quality for today's residents and for future generations.
Our housing strategy sets out how we are tackling some of the
major housing issues our communities face and shows how we are
striving to create better standards and choice for our
residents.
Our vision
Better housing is vital to Rochdale's future.
Our aim is clear: to provide better housing in quality
neighbourhoods, improve choice and tackle disadvantage.
We intend to:
- Provide quality homes that are warm, dry and secure in
sustainable neighbourhoods.
- Provide a choice of housing that meets the needs of resident
across the borough.
- Meet the housing needs of disadvantaged groups in an inclusive
way.
The need for change
In our inner areas some house prices are well below the national
average and there is poor quality housing and overcrowding.
- Our worst property conditions are found in the private sector,
particularly in the private rented sector.
- Most of our social rented estates were built in the 1960s and
70s, so feature smaller homes but not enough family houses.
- We face another challenge - the borough's population is
expected to keep growing. We need a better choice of modern housing
for sale and rent in the right locations.
Raising standards
A lot has already been achieved to improve neighbourhoods:
- Our Arm's Length Management Organisation, Rochdale Boroughwide
Housing, has brought the Council's homes up to the Decent Homes
Standard - four years ahead of schedule.
- We have introduced crime reduction measures including alley
gates, CCTV, security patrols and concierge services.
- Powers to tackle anti-social behaviour have been increased and
we have worked with social and private landlords to implement
these.
- Social estates and areas of poor quality housing have been
remodelled with the demolition of some properties.
- Much work has been done to improve poor quality private houses
through our wide-ranging private sector housing renewal
policies.
A better choice
Our aim is to build up to 400 modern new homes every year.
We are working in partnership with the Oldham Rochdale Housing
Market Renewal Pathfinder to invest millions of pounds in the
borough. This is attracting developers to build new homes in areas
that have suffered from a lack of investment.
New apartments and houses of different sizes and styles are
pushing design boundaries. They will be built with the environment
in mind with many harnessing wind and sun energy to cut fuel
bills.
The core aim driving these exciting plans is simple: to offer a
better choice to local people.
Transformation for tomorrow
Local people have to be at the heart of proposals for homes and
a huge amount of consultation will continue into the future to
ensure we get it right.
A revolution in housing cannot happen overnight. We are working
closely with residents to ensure that they are involved in mapping
out the transformation of neighbourhoods.
We will also:
- Continue to negotiate to buy land to build new homes.
- Encourage private owners to improve derelict land and
buildings.
- Continue to bring homes up to decent standards.
- Invest in the environment to make streets safer and more
pleasant.
An inclusive housing service
We will work closely with our local community to tackle
deprivation and disadvantage.
- Tackling and preventing homelessness is central to our aim of
helping people to live independently and inclusively in the
borough.
- We are working to build a mixture of sizes of homes suitable
for all families.
- We are working to build a mixture of sizes of homes to meet
housing needs, including those of Black and Minority Ethnic
communities.
- We are increasing housing options for people with learning
difficulties, older people and people with physical disability or
sensory impairment.
- Through our Supporting People programme we aim to support
vulnerable people to maximise their independence and prevent social
exclusion.
Into the future
Our housing strategy is not just about bricks and mortar.
By improving our homes for rent, building new, modern homes and
raising service standards we will help to improve the quality of
life of residents throughout the borough.
This in turn will encourage people to stay here and help the
area to prosper. We are committed to working with local people on
delivering change.