Strategic Housing Services

Since the management of council properties is undertaken by Ashfield Homes on a contractual basis, the role of housing services has changed to a more strategic one. The Strategic Housing Team's role is to promote research, identify housing needs, improve housing conditions, and coordinate and integrate linked strategies.  Strategic Housing can be seen as a source of information on all housing related matters.

Sub - Regional Housing Strategy for the Sherwood Forest Area

The Sherwood Forest crosses the boundaries of Ashfield, Mansfield, and Newark and Sherwood District Councils, and in recognition of this connection all three councils have jointly produced a strategy which covers the Sherwood Forest Housing Market Area.

The Sherwood Forest Area 'The Place of Choice' Strategy covers the period 2008 - 2018 and states that by 2018 we want the Sherwood Forest area 'to be the place of choice in the East Midlands, to live, learn and work. Our residents will have a good quality of life and live in decent affordable homes in thriving communities'.

The Strategy sets out three outcomes to achieve this vision, supported by a detailed action plan. The outcomes are:

1. People can live in homes that meet their needs and are affordable, whatever their circumstances
2. People are able to fulfull their potential and aspirations
3. Homes and neighbourhoods provide a healthy, safe and sustainable environment.

Health inequalities are linked to the challenges presented by homelessness and the provision of decent affordable housing. The challenge to effectively tackle health inequalities is therefore presented in part by the need to improve and invest in the provision of decent affordable housing, increasing choice and supply, and related housing support services.

Ashfield Local Housing Plan

The Local Housing Plan for Ashfield, sits under the Sherwood Forest Sub Regional Housing Strategy and sets out the Council's objectives and priorities for housing. This is an over-arching strategy and action plan which outlines the strategic agenda and focus for the district and its partners. The Plan is closely linked to the Homelessness Strategy, Housing Needs Assessment, Private Sector Enforcement, and Empty Homes Strategy.

Homelessness Strategy

The Homelessness Act 2002 brought a fundamental change to the approach to homelessness with a strong emphasis on prevention and the importance of tackling homelessness through a mult-agency approach.  Ashfield District Council Homelessness Strategy details the extent of Homelessness in the district and sets out the priorities for the next few years and how we will deliver them.

Private Sector Housing Empty Homes Strategy

The principle aim of the Empty Homes Strategy 2009-12 is to propose and implement action that will return long term empty private sector properties back into residential use.

Private Sector Housing Enforcement Strategy

The council has a statutory duty to enforce the provisions of the Housing Act 2004, associated regulations and other legislation within the district. The Private Sector Housing Enforcement Strategy outlines our Policy and Equality Statement, the approach we will adopt and practical arrangements for putting the policy into effect.

Nottinghamshire Supporting People Strategy

The Nottinghamshire Supporting People Strategy 2010-13 sets out the plan for the commissioning, procurement and delivery of Supporting People services up to 2013.  

Sustainable Communities Strategy

The Sustainable Communities Strategy runs until 2026 and has been informed by research and facts and figures about the district.   Ashfield District Council is committed to tackling deep seated deprivation so that residents are not disadvantaged by where they live in the district as there are wide variations between the most deprived areas and the rest of the district.

Housing Research

One of our strategic housing responsibilities is to assess and plan for the housing needs of local people across all tenures, and to do this we carry out and commission research to inform our future plans and strategies. Some research we commission jointly with neighbouring authorities or county wide as this gives good value for money and we have more confidence in the results from a larger study population.

As well as specific research projects we also use publicly available information from Neighbourhood Statistics, Communities and Local Government, CORE (COntinuous REcording of Sales and Lettings), the National Register of Social Housing, and Housing Intelligence for the East Midlands (see links to external sites in box in the top right hand corner).

Current Research

• Older People's Housing Needs
• Learning Difficulties Housing and Care
• Disabled Persons' Housing Needs Research - this project has been commissioned jointly with all the Nottinghamshire and some Derbyshire local authorities and is currently being undertaken by consultants. The report on this research should be available early in 2012.