Housing Strategy

Draft Tenancy Strategy for Consultation

The City Council is consulting on its draft Tenancy Strategy. This proposes the length of new social housing tenancies in Westminster and the circumstances in which they should be renewed. The consultation ends on Friday 27th April 2012.  Please respond to Cecily Herdman, Housing Strategy team, 9th Floor City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP. Telephone 020 7641 2789 or email cherdman@westminster.gov.uk

Affordable Rent Statement

In September 2011, the City Council developed an interim Affordable Rent Statement setting out the rent levels it supports. The statement is expected to guide Private Registered Providers (Housing Associations) when they are setting their rent levels.  The statement will be regularly reviewed and will be incorporated into the City Council’s Tenancy Strategy in 2012.

Read the Statement here (pdf format)

For more information about the Affordable Rent Statement contact Fergus Coleman: Housing Association Supply Manager  fcoleman@westminster.gov.uk Tel 020 7641 2129. 

Housing Renewal Strategy

Last year we invited residents and other stakeholders to take part in our public consultation to develop a Housing Renewal Strategy.  We received over 100 responses which provided views and suggestions to help us finalise the strategy.  It was approved by the council’s Cabinet on 22nd February 2010.

We made seven key changes to the strategy as a result of the feedback we received.  We have:

1. Revised our objectives to place increased emphasis on health, well-being and environmental sustainability
2. Included Westbourne Green as a fifth area to develop a master plan for (in addition to Church Street, Tollgate Gardens, Brunel and Ebury Bridge)
3. Committed to examine other areas our respondents have suggested for renewal
4. Included what we will be doing with homes and estates that aren’t within the Housing Renewal Programme
5. Committed to develop clear policies on people’s right of return to renewal estates and the transfer of tenancy rights, options for leaseholders, and a preference for local people when letting or purchasing new homes
6. Made a clear statement that we will not proceed with specific renewal proposals for a neighbourhood when there is a lack of agreement amongst residents and local representatives.
7. Committed to hold a renewal conference in early 2011 to discuss findings emerging from our master plans.

• Read the final version of the strategy here (pdf version)
  
  

Please email any comments to renewalstrategy@westminster.gov.uk 

Or reply by mail to:

Daniel McCarthy, Head of Housing Strategy & Performance, Westminster City Council, 9th floor, City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP

If you would like to speak to an officer about the Renewal Strategy, please telephone 020 7641 3097.

Housing Strategy 2007-12

Westminster's new housing strategy is now available. The strategy is based largely on the findings of the independent Westminster Housing Commission (more information below) and has been supplemented by extensive consultation with residents and partner organisations. Download a copy by clicking on the link below.

• Housing Strategy 2007-12

2006 Housing Needs Assessment

Every five years the Council undertakes an assessment of housing needs in the City, which involves a face-to-face survey of a sample of households living in all tenures. The assessment follows a methodology set out by Government, and is used to inform both housing and planning policies adopted by the Council, particularly policies around the provision of affordable housing. The Council's 2006 assessment was carried out by Fordham Research and is based on a sample of over 1,200 residents.

• Westminster Housing Needs Assessment

Housing Commission

The Westminster Housing Commission was set up by the City Council to identify new and creative solutions to the problems of high demand and low affordability and supply faced by the City. Click on the link below for more information about the Commission and to download a copy of its final report. The Commission's findings have informed the development of the new Housing Strategy. 

Visit the Westminster Housing Commission website here.

Homelessness Strategy

Westminster first published a Homelessness Strategy in 2003. This was updated in 2004 and 2008. The strategy sets out how the City Council manages and responds to homelessness within the City. Click on the links below to view the main document and the two updates.

• Homelessness Strategy 2003 - 2008
• Homelessness Strategy update 2004 / 05
• Homelessness Strategy update 2008 / 10