Agenda item

To seek approval of the Housing Strategy following public consultation.

To adopt the Housing Strategy as at Appendix A to the report.

There had not been an adopted Housing Strategy in place for the Isle of Wight since 2012. The proposed strategy recognised the unique environment and challenges faced on the island, and sought to increase housing choice for island families and to meet the specific needs of older and disabled residents, tackling homelessness and delivering more affordable homes.

Over the last 18 months during development of the strategy there had been several conferences with housing associations and other stakeholders, including Town and parish Councils and full public consultation had taken place, including an island-wide needs survey to ascertain current and future needs. The strategy had been updated a number of times, and had taken into account the impact of the COVID pandemic particularly the six-fold increase in homelessness.

A key aim was to identify the housing challenges faced on the island including the lack of affordable homes built over the last 10 years. The needs survey had identified 222 new affordable homes would need to be built each year, but few had been. The housing waiting list identified 2500 households needing affordable homes at any one time.

The action plan had a number of actions set out to support the key priorities including ensuring the right supply and the right mix of new homes and increasing affordable housing delivery. Reducing homelessness and rough sleeping through effective prevention work and building a new homeless pathway with partner services, and providing primary and extra-care housing for older and disabled people.

Adoption of the strategy would allow housing partnerships to be developed and strengthened to focus on housing delivery.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Housing Needs spoke in support of the strategy and reported that there were many people who had been of the social housing waiting list for years with no realistic prospect of securing access to social housing. House prices and rentals were unaffordable for many people, including young people who had to remain at home as they could not afford a place of their own.

There were 2120 people on the housing register at the end of August 2020. 337 of these were Band 1 or 2. 193 households were in temporary accommodation, 36 of those in bed and breakfast. In August, 21 households had presented as homeless.

Housing supply was one of the strategic priorities, which including bringing empty properties into use but these must be the right type, size and location, maximising all brownfield building opportunities. The building of 24 new affordable homes in the West Wight had attracted 87 applications. Affordable housing was also needed for young people and families.

It was noted that the Isle of Wight was one of the few areas in the South East region which did not qualify for Housing Grant.

It was noted that the Corporate Scrutiny Committee had been fully in support of the strategy with an additional recommendation that the formation of a council-owned housing company be brought forward one year. The position was to secure development of affordable housing on the island based on evidence of need with the support of the community. Bringing forward proposals for Newport Harbour to develop brownfield land in council ownership for up to 250 homes, as well as employment and cultural and leisure use, whilst being mindful of the community’s wishes. The council acknowledge representations made by the local member and the focus would now be on brownfield development for housing rather than at the entrance to Seaclose park. This was due before Cabinet on 12 November. The aim was to minimise development on greenfield sites only in exceptional circumstances, and ensure the right homes in the right place for the right people, with islanders’ needs a priority.