Housing strategy statement

The Council transferred its housing stock to Cottsway Housing Association in March 2001 but remains responsible for working with other agencies to meet the need for affordable homes in West Oxfordshire.

The Housing Strategy Statement - Building Futures is one of the Council's Priority Strategies. The strategy should be read in conjunction with the Council's Homelessness Strategy 2008-2012.

The Council supports individuals and families to stay in the area by enabling the provision of affordable housing and seeks:-

To ensure that all persons in the district of West Oxfordshire have the opportunity to secure satisfactory
and affordable accommodation that is suited to their needs.
To take a well- informed approach to addressing the housing problems of the District.
To work in partnership with other housing agencies to facilitate the provision of adequate accommodation to
meet the housing and related support needs that are identified.
To listen to customers, learn from feedback and make service improvements when needed.
To ensure equality of opportunity in housing provision across all sectors.
To promote sustainable development that meets with the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The Council has set itself a target of enabling the provision of at least 110 new affordable homes in 2011/2012 and 150 new affordable homes between April 2012 and April 2014.

Regular assessments of housing needs are undertaken.

In 2007, the Council worked with the other local authorities in Oxfordshire to carry out a sub-regional Housing Market Assessment. A copy of the summary report can be found in the Housing Services publications section of this web site.

In 2008, the Council commissioned DCA to carry out a housing needs assessment for the District. A copy of the executive summary and the full report can be found in the Housing Services publications section of this web site. An update was carried out in 2011 and copies of the executive summary and full report are downloadable in the Housing Services publications section of this web site.

From time to time, a housing need survey may be carried out in a particular parish. To find out if your parish has had a survey carried out, please contact Ffyona MacEwan, telephone 01993 861156.

During 2010, we reviewed and updated our older persons housing strategy. A report giving details of the consultation exercise on which the updated strategy is based, can be found in the Housing Services publications section of this web site.