Strategy & Policies

Housing strategy

Our housing strategy for the district seeks to understand the contribution of good-quality housing to the success of Canterbury district as a place in which to live, work, study and do business. It requires a thorough understanding of the relationship between housing, education, employment, economic activity.

The housing strategy is currently under review and one of the principal pieces of research on which it will be based is the East Kent Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA):

• East Kent Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA):
• Annexes to the East Kent Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA)
• East Kent Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA):Technical Appendix

The SHMA was a joint study for Canterbury City Council, Dover District Council, Shepway District Council, Swale Borough Council and Thanet District Council. The results give a picture of trends across East Kent, but also show the position for each district.

The SHMA contains information about our population, employment, housing tenure, housing costs and affordability of accommodation. Importantly, it assesses the need for affordable housing and market housing. It demonstrates that the need for affordable housing has risen from 766 homes per year in 2004 to 1104 homes per year in 2009.

Housing Strategy review

In addition to the SHMA, we have undertaken a considerable amount of research into the aspirations of people in the district. We also organised a very well attended consultation event for our partners to contribute their views and experiences.

Some of the key issues to emerge are:

• Meeting the housing needs and aspirations of young people
• Improving housing choices for older people
• The effects of a successful higher education sector on the housing market
• Housing need in rural areas
• Affordability
• Making better use of existing housing in all tenures
  

We intend to publish the first draft of the revised Housing Strategy in early 2010 and will consult on its contents.

Housing Strategy 2005-2010

The Housing Strategy 2005-2010 explains the housing issues facing the district and the level of housing need. In 2004, it was assessed that 766 new affordable homes were required annually in the district. The Strategy's action plan sets out how the council and its partners will tackle this housing need. The action plan is implemented and monitored by the Housing Strategy Steering Group, which meets every six months. Click on the link to see the Housing Strategy Progress Report .

If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Housing Strategy or the review process, please contact either:

Gary Peskett, Strategic Policy & Improvement Manager, tel. 01227 862110, e-mail gary.peskett@canterbury.gov.uk or Carol Wrate, Strategy & Enabling Officer, tel. 01227 862111, carol.wrate@canterbury.gov.uk

The East Kent Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment.

Canterbury City Council, with its neighbouring councils in Dover,Shepway and Thanet, commissioned a joint study (GTAA) into the type of accommodation & number of pitches needed by Gypsies, Travellers and Trevelling Showpeople in East Kent for the next 5 years and beyond.

The GTAA identified the number of pitches needed but does not propose specific locations for sites. Local Authorities will be responsible for identifying suitable locations through the Local Development Framework.

If you wish to discuss the GTAA please contact

Gary Peskett( Strategic Policy & Improvement Manager)

( 01227 862110 gary.peskett@canterbury.gov.uk) OR

Read the GTAA for East Kent.  For more information and links to helpful sites please see our Gypsy and Traveller Information

Community Development Strategy

The strategy sets out the role of the community development team at Canterbury City Council, its priorities, its working practices, principles and values.

Youth Strategy

This strategy has been commissioned by the Canterbury District Children's Copnsortium - a partnership of service providers and commissioners of preventative services for 0 - 19 year olds.  The aim of the youth strategy is to identify issues that are most important to young people and respond with integrated servioces that are best suited to their needs.  Canterbury District Multi-agency Youth Strategy 2008-2012 (PDF file size 397Kb)

Housing Revenue Account Business Plan

The government requires councils that own their own housing stock to maintain a business plan to identify the level of future investment that is needed and the income that will be available to match that investment.