The Torbay Housing Strategy 2022-2030 is an overarching document that sets out how the council will promote a balanced housing market; essential to sustainable communities, in response to Torbay’s current housing crisis.

Through leadership and working with partners this strategy aims to improve the delivery, affordability and quality of housing.

The strategy will kick start the delivery of new homes and support improving existing homes and communities; with particular focus on affordable and social rent properties.

The strategy builds upon the Council’s previous housing strategy and seeks to continue the momentum of improvement.

That the Cabinet recommends to Council:

1.         that the Torbay Housing Strategy 2023-2030, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved; and

2.         subject to 1. above, the Cabinet approves the Housing Strategy Project Plan 2023-2024, with any minor amendments to the Housing Strategy Project Plan 2023-2024 being made by the Director of Pride in Place in consultation with Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing.

The current Housing Strategy runs to April 2025, it was adopted prior to the Council declaring a Housing and Climate emergency in 2021, and before the Covid19 Pandemic in 2020.  As a result the Council has refreshed the aims and objectives of the Housing Strategy accordingly.  The refreshed Housing Strategy sets out what the Council, and its partners, will be doing to improve the housing situation for Torbay’s current and future residents.

None.

The recommendations of the Cabinet will be considered at the Council meeting on 7 March 2023.

The Housing Strategy (Policy Framework document) is the over-arching strategic document that pulls together all aspects of the Council’s strategic housing function.  The Housing Strategy sets out the approach the Council will take with all of its partners to work towards the vision set out in the Strategy.  The priorities reflect the broad range of work that the Council and its partners do to meet local housing need, including developing affordable housing, maintaining housing standards, and helping people to stay independent in their own homes, whilst preventing homelessness.  Within each theme, key aims of the Council have been identified, which are considered to directly contribute to the overall sense of community, health and wellbeing in the Bay.

At the meeting, Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as set out above.

None.