Have your say - Bedford Borough Council Housing Strategy

Bedford Borough Council is consulting on its draft Housing Strategy 2021- 26 and wants to know your views.

Having a good place to live is key to an individual's health and wellbeing and this Strategy sets out the Council's four key objectives for local housing over the five year time period.

These objectives include Understanding Housing Need; ensuring the Council has up-to-date information on what housing is needed, and Delivering the Homes Required.

The third addresses Making Best Use of Existing Housing including bringing empty properties back into use, while the fourth focuses on Meeting the Housing Needs of Vulnerable People from specialist housing for those with a disability, to support needs for those fleeing domestic violence.

The Council and its partners have seen many successes during the period of last Housing Strategy Review (2016-2020) including securing more than £2.5million to help reduce rough sleeping, over 440 adaptations funded by Disabled Facilities Grant from 2016-2019, over 300 empty properties brought back into use from 2016-2019, and two affordable housing schemes shortlisted for National Housing Awards.

The Council is now looking to build upon these successes, working proactively together in a changing environment to meet the housing needs of the Borough's citizens identified in this new five-year strategy.

The draft strategy is available to view at www.bedford.gov.uk/consultations. Paper copies are available to view at the Borough Council's Customer Service Centre in Horne Lane, by appointment only and all Parish Councils have been sent a paper copy of the strategy.

Comments can also be made by: -

• Completing the online form on the Council's consultation page
• Emailing strategy@bedford.gov.uk
• Writing to - The Housing Strategy Team, Room 415, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP

The consultation is open until 5pm on Tuesday 18 August 2020.