Headlines from the Strategy

Our current Housing Strategy is the West Kent Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2016 – 2021 which is reaching the end of its term. We delivered this Strategy with Sevenoaks and Tonbridge and Malling Councils, however, the Councils have decided to have their own strategies for the next five years. 

The Homelessness Act 2002 requires us to conduct a homelessness review every five years, and to develop a Strategy setting out how services will be delivered in the future. In addition, the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy sets out a vision to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and to eliminate it completely by 2024. Local authorities have been asked to update their homelessness strategies to include rough sleeper strategies, and this draft Strategy incorporates rough sleeping for the first time. 

The draft Strategy has been prepared over the past year with discussions taking place with our partners, and contributions from Housing and Planning staff. It’s been considered by councillors at our Housing Advisory Panel, Cabinet Advisory Board and Cabinet, and the comments made have been incorporated into the current version. 

The Strategy is in draft form, pending consultation with partners working alongside us in the borough, and colleagues in other local authorities and organisations. 

Preventing homelessness and supporting households at risk of homelessness

Ending rough sleeping

Working with private sector landlords to house homeless and at risk households

Moving homeless households onto permanent homes

Maximising delivery of new affordable homes to meet housing need

Delivering low carbon and environmentally sustainable homes

Shaping a thriving, high standard private rented sector

Bringing long term empty homes back into use

Making best use of social rented housing

Reducing the environmental impact of homes

Shaping the housing stock

Supporting and maintaining the independence of residents

Developing integrated housing, health, and care strategies