Improving the supply, quality, affordability and suitability of the housing stock to meet the changing needs of the population is a priority for Gwynedd Council and its partners.
The adoption of the new Local Housing Strategy for Gwynedd marks the beginning of an exciting and equally challenging future for the entire housing sector – both social and private housing. It is the Housing Partnership’s vision to achieve this strategy by 2021.
The Strategy builds on many examples of successful cooperative schemes involving Gwynedd Council, housing associations, Snowdonia National Park, private sector landlords, tenants, developers, funders, the Health and Social Care sector, Forestry Commission and third sector organisations.
The Strategy also sets the challenge to continue to deliver high quality services – making the vision a reality for the citizens of Gwynedd.
Councillor Trefor Edwards, Gwynedd Council’s Housing Portfolio Leader, said: “The quality and availability of housing is a key thread proven to have a far reaching affect on a number of other areas such as education; health and wellbeing; employment; community regeneration; poverty – fuel poverty in particular; sustainability and community safety.
“The Strategy is timely in that it encourages us to think differently, pushes us to simplify systems and make better use of scarce funding to deliver real outcomes.
“The Strategy also looks at the transfer of housing stock in April 2010, which will not only bring about improvement in stock condition, but will also have much wider physical regeneration benefits and environmental improvements.
“Gwynedd Council is already in discussion with Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd, and the three housing associations operating within the county, to maximise regeneration opportunities which will accompany achieving the Welsh Housing Quality Standards.”
Walis George, Chairman of the Gwynedd Housing Partnership, added: “The Strategy and the work of the Housing Partnership is crucially important for both residents and professionals who are interested in what the future housing development will look like and what the housing sector needs to do to deliver in this current economic climate.”
The Gwynedd Local Housing Strategy drives forward housing policy as well developing the following projects:
- programmes to deliver affordable housing
- bringing vacant properties back into residential use
- developing housing options for older people and adults with learning disability
- homelessness services
- accreditation schemes for landlords
- housing support for vulnerable groups to enable them to continue living independently
- mortgage rescue schemes
For a copy of the Gwynedd Local Housing Strategy, contact Gwynedd Council’s Housing Strategy Policy Team on 01286 679289, or visit: www.gwynedd.gov.uk.
