Sheffield City Region Housing Compact launch to deliver much needed affordable homes

Rotherham recently hosted the launch of the '˜Housing Compact', a landmark agreement, between local authorities and housing providers in the Sheffield City Region to drive the economy through new house building and help deliver much-needed affordable homes.
Councillor Dominic BeckCouncillor Dominic Beck
Councillor Dominic Beck

The Compact was launched with key political and housing figures from across the region who signed the ‘Housing Compact’, demonstrating their commitment to working together to promote joint working, new house building and to ensure that social housing plays its full part in the City Region’s economic and housing plans and to protect the future supply of social housing and its availability for those in greatest need.

Giving the opening address at its launch on Monday, 5 December, 2016, Rotherham Council’s, Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Beck, said: “I’m delighted the launch of the Compact is taking place on my home turf because the underlying principles echo much of what I want to achieve for housing in Rotherham. We are absolutely committed to housing growth – housing plays a crucial role in delivering the Council’s overall vision.

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“And, as Rotherham Council is one of the largest social landlords outside London, I am determined to ensure we maintain a critical mass of social housing in the borough – both council and housing association stock.”

Councillor Beck continued to say: ”The Compact is intended to make the Sheffield City Region a more attractive and business friendly place to develop homes – that can only be beneficial for Rotherham. With challenging times ahead for social housing provision and an even more challenging time for our residents, many of whom are feeling the impact of welfare reform policies, it has never been more important for all the key players in social housing provision to put their heads together and find new solutions to face this. It makes good sense to share ideas and best practice.”

The event, which was held in the New York Stadium, was organised by the National Housing Federation. The Federation’s Chief Executive David Orr said: “Strong local leadership is vital to developing a cohesive strategy for affordable housing. The Compact is an excellent opportunity for the Sheffield City Region to grow the economy, regenerate communities, create jobs and help end the local housing crisis. This partnership can also play a key role in improving skills, job opportunities and health and social care for local communities.”

As part of its ambitious plans to regenerate the region and find new housing solutions, the Council is currently seeking views from people about what type of homes they would like to see in Rotherham town centre and also wants to know what other facilities and attractions are important to people if they were to consider town centre living.

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Residents are invited to take part in the Town Centre survey which takes about five minutes to complete and will ask people a number of questions about where they live now, whether they would consider moving and what their top considerations are when looking for a new home.

Residents who do not have access to the internet at home can visit a local library and ask staff to help.

The survey can be found at Click here