The strategy has been approved by the council’s Cabinet and builds on the 2019 to 2024 strategy by aligning the objectives of its housing service to emerging national and local priorities.
A collaborative approach has informed the development of the strategy, including pre-consultation earlier this year from 10 January to 9 February, followed by final public consultation from 8 July to 1 September.
The new strategy focuses around the following 4 priorities: right homes, in the right places; making the best use of assets and ensuring high standards across all areas of council housing; working in partnership to drive up the standard and quality of the private rented sector, and safe, secure; and sustainable housing that supports good health and independence.
As part of the strategy the council’s housing development team has been restructured and appropriately resourced to establish a housing development pipeline and access to Homes England and West Midlands Combined Authority funding.
Through the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) the council will be investing more than £100 million over the next 5 years to deliver around 400 new homes.
Effective collaboration with public and private sector partners means major housing schemes are also on site or in the pipeline, generating thousands of homes.
The Royal Quarter has seen the transformation of the historic Grade-II listed former Royal Hospital building into affordable homes, creating a fantastic gateway to the city and Wavensmere Homes is set to start on site imminently to deliver 500 sustainable new homes, commercial and public open space at Canalside South.
The biggest regeneration scheme in the city that will bring forward more than 1,000 new homes across multiple phases is City Centre West. The council has signed a development agreement with ECF – a partnership of 3 of the most trusted names in the UK – Muse, Legal & General, and Homes England – to deliver this, and a planning application has been submitted.
Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing, said: “We are proud of what we have achieved to create a better housing offer and service for people living in our city.
“Now we must build on that, and it is important we have robust delivery plans to accelerate housing development that will support inclusive economic growth and focus on people and our plans to support our residents and create good homes in well connected neighbourhoods.
“This new strategy now gives us the platform to establish a solid delivery plan that meets our commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing of the people who live and work in the City of Wolverhampton.”
Under the 2019 to 2024 housing strategy, hundreds of new council homes have been developed; the council’s own housing company, WV Living, has delivered new developments across the city; residents have moved into the first new council homes at Heath Town, while the high rise blocks and estate have also seen major transformation; a retrofit programme of £46 million started in May last year, which will see improvements made to 414 non-traditional build homes across the city; around £141 million is also being invested to future proof and improve high rise homes with money for fire safety, new sprinkler systems, infrastructure and energy efficiency; and support from residents has been secured for further estate redevelopment at New Park Village. All this has run in tandem with private developments like Sunbeam by Paragon Living, The Locks by Rise Homes and Springvale by GreenSquareAccord.
