Ambitious plan for housing across the Wakefield district

Senior councillors will be asked to discuss the Wakefield Housing Plan 2023 - 2026 at their meeting next week.

The plan sets out the Council’s ambitious actions, its vision, and priorities to improve the local housing offer for residents.

The plan aims to deliver a wide range of housing goals to meet the needs of residents. This includes offering more affordable homes, more energy efficient homes, and homes that meet the needs of people with disabilities. And to have safe and secure places for people to live.

The report sets out three themes and 12 priorities. The themes are to build more homes, for these to be high-quality safe and healthy homes, and for these homes to be part of sustainable communities.

A key ambition is that with the cost-of-living crisis making housing affordability more of a challenge the council will support residents to be financially resilient. And to help people to live in existing housing that is warm and healthy, secure and managed well.  As well as providing homes that meet residents’ specialist health needs. 

By having quality housing, with the right infrastructure and services, this will support residents to live and grow in strong communities and will be achieved with strong partnership working.

The Wakefield Housing Plan 2023-2026 includes plans to:
•    Site checks continue prior to work beginning at the Chantry House site in Kirkgate. 
•    Procure a developer for the Kirkgate Innovative Neighbourhood Gateway.
•    Progress the Farm Lane Fitzwilliam site development.   
•    Progress work on the former Castleford Baths site. 
•    Complete the review of specialist housing needs and produce an action plan, which will involve collaborating with our health partners to develop our specialist and supported housing offer.
•    Deliver further opportunities to support new specialist housing provision.
•    Continue to service private rented property complaints removing poor conditions and hazards.

The report to Cabinet reflects on the achievements of the previous Housing Plan 2019- 2022, that has delivered many positive outcomes. These include:
•    Housing-led regeneration masterplans adopted and progressed at City Fields, Knottingley, Pontefract and Wakefield City 
•    Bridge Homes completed four housing sites, including 127 new homes, 32 of which were affordable homes. 
•    City Fields – ongoing delivery by the private sector, plus the first planning application submitted for Council owned land
•    424 empty properties brought back into use.
•    Primrose Hill Community Harmony project completed, which improved 195 privately rented properties.
•    543 energy efficiency measures installed through Council schemes.
•    1,030 households supported through Money Smart.
•    Key Council owned sites being developed for affordable housing at Farm Lane, Chantry, and Castleford Baths.
•    20 wheelchair accessible properties built.
•    Close working between Strategic Housing and the Housing Needs Service, supporting homelessness accommodation provision.
•    New Private Rented Sector Access scheme developed.

The Cabinet will meet on Tuesday 17 September at 10.30am. The meeting can be watched live or later on the Council’s website.