Housing Strategy 2011-2015 - North West Leicestershire District ...

Better Homes, Better Lives 

Housing Strategy 

2011-2015 

April 2011

Page 1 

Housing Strategy

Page 2 

Executive Summary 

Introduction 

Our housing strategy describes how we, the North West Leicestershire Strategic Housing Partnership, 

intend to meet the housing needs and aspirations of our residents, making the best use of all the 

resources we have at our disposal and contributing to our vision for the district. 

We think that a clear direction and leadership is needed at a time of uncertainty and our strategy is 

based on an understanding of what people need and want in North West Leicestershire, across all 

tenures and household circumstances. Residents tell us that affordable decent housing is the fourth 

most important factor in making somewhere a good place to live. 

Our vision 

We want North West Leicestershire to be a place where people and businesses feel they belong 

and are proud to call home 

Our housing strategy will contribute to this. We want to see: 

1. Homes for all 

2. Healthy homes 

3. Content and confident communities 

4. Fair and equal access to housing 

In deciding how we will achieve these outcomes we have considered how action can improve 

health and wellbeing, and contribute to a sustainable and resilient economy. We also aim to support 

individuals and communities so that they are more able to contribute to society, to take control of the 

services they receive and the choices they make, and to hold us to account. 

How we have developed the strategy 

This strategy has been developed by a partnership of North West Leicestershire District Council, 

Leicestershire County Council, housing associations working in the area, Leicestershire and Rutland 

Probation Trust, private developers and voluntary and community sector organisations. 

This Partnership will be responsible for this strategy and making sure it is delivered. 

To get to this point we carried out research and analysis, workshops and discussions and we 

considered what residents and customers of housing services say is important. The evidence we 

based our decisions on can be found here http:// www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/housing_strategy 

We have an annual action plan that describes how we will deliver this strategy in more detail. This 

also makes it clear where we would like input from local residents and other interested parties. This 

can be viewed here http:// www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/housing_strategy 

For further information about this strategy, the action plan and opportunities for involvement, or in 

relation to housing matters in general please contact Sue Hallam at North West Leicestershire DC; 

tel: 01530 454 612 or email: sue.hallam@nwleicestershire.gov.uk. 

2011-2015

Page 3 

The challenges we will overcome 

We identified a number of challenges that we need to overcome if we want to achieve our vision and 

meet housing need and aspirations. 

Key challenges 

1. There is a limited choice of housing available to people in North West Leicestershire, 

including a lack of affordable homes 

2. Improvement is needed in the condition of existing homes in both the social and private 

housing sector, particularly to improve health and wellbeing, The private rented sector 

will need to play a greater role in the future in meeting housing needs as other options 

are limited. 

3. There is an increasingly older population, and people are living longer but not necessarily 

with healthier lives. Other households also have additional health needs which impact on 

their housing requirements. 

4. The economic downturn, government spending plans and welfare reform are expected to 

reduce household income, increase the need for affordable housing and increase 

vulnerability – but our collective capacity to respond is also reducing 

5. There are a number of areas within the district with concentrations of issues, and there’s 

a danger these areas will not improve, or will get worse 

Our outcomes in more detail and priorities for action 

1. We will have ‘homes for all’ when 

• New homes are suitable to meet different aspirations and needs, well-designed 

and sustainable 

– Affordable housing is available in rural communities 

– Property sizes and types reflect needs and aspirations including smaller 

accommodation and bungalows 

– Supported housing is available 

– Gypsies, travellers and travelling showpeople have access to good quality 

site provision 

• The best use is made of existing housing, including empty homes and under-occupied homes 

We will build on: 

• Our Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document which requires a choice of homes 

in new developments and we ask for a contribution of new affordable homes from developers 

• Our Local Investment Plan for affordable homes which prioritises settlements with populations 

under 3,000, and the support we provide to develop rural homes (34 new homes in 2011/12) 

• Our success in securing funding for new homes (£11.3 million in 2008-10) and housing 

support. The Council also made available £670,000 worth of land to enable new homes to 

be built. 

• Our Empty Property Strategy which aims to bring long term empty properties back into use. 


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Between now and 2015 we will: 

• Develop and implement flexible planning and development processes to enable new homes 

• Identify and implement alternative delivery mechanisms for the delivery of rural 

affordable housing 

• Work with housing associations to inform and implement the Homes and Communities 

Agency’s affordable rent programme in the district 

• Implement a local housing needs survey programme and use these to inform our plans 

• Look at the options for the barriers to development presented by the River Mease, and 

take action 

• Review all council owned land to identify the potential for house building 

• Introduce a policy within the Core Strategy to meet the needs of Gypsies, Travellers and 

Travelling Showpeople 

• Develop an under-occupation incentive scheme, linked to the proposed local authority 

strategic tenancy policy 

2. We will have ‘healthy homes’ when 

• There are warm, safe and well maintained homes 

• There are well-managed homes 

• Homes are flexible to meet changing needs and that people are able to move if their 

needs change 

• Neighbourhood environments support a good quality of life 


• Our Landlords Exchange Forum where issues of private sector housing management 

are covered 

• Our work to monitor and improve housing conditions in the privately owned sector 

• The Council’s Green Footprint Challenge which aims to change the way we think about 

our local environment eg, by encouraging sustainable urban design 

• Work with the new Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership to achieve a low 

carbon economy ‘where homes and jobs are aligned’ 

• Affordable housing design standards which require new homes to have a minimum impact 

on energy use and reduce harmful carbon emissions 

• The Council’s current policy in relation to its own housing stock to exchange failing solid 

fuel appliances with gas fired alternatives where mains service provision lends the opportunity. 


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• Introduce a Supplementary Planning Document to enable healthy homes 

and neighbourhoods 

• Improve the condition of council owned homes to achieve the decent standard by 2015 

• Improve the condition of homes in the private sector, identifying non-decency through surveys 

and reports from residents, working with landlords and homeowners and taking enforcement action 

• Improve affordable warmth, improving access to affordable energy supplies for council tenants 

and advising private sector landlords and tenants of opportunities to improve 

their homes 

• Improve the Disabled Facilities Grant programme, working with other authorities 

and organisations and updating the district policy so that it is in line with the County 

Council policy 

3. We will have ‘content and confident communities’ when 

• More people able to afford a wider range of quality housing options 

• Communities welcome and support people living in their neighbourhoods 

• There is a wider understanding of the housing options open to people to maintain 

or improve their housing circumstances 


• Our approach to enabling employment through our planning applications process 

• Our new choice based lettings system with the 6 other Leicestershire authorities to enable 

improved access to housing 

• Work with Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership to remove barriers to economic 

growth and resilience, to address economic and financial inclusion, and support households 

to contribute and benefit from economic growth. 


• Improve access to better paid and secure employment opportunities for workless 

households and households on a low income 

• Work with employers to identify and overcome barriers to their investment in the area, 

for example skills of employees, through a new Business Growth and Support Partnership 

• Establish a Supporting Local Needs Partnership to co-ordinate action to address 

disadvantage in the district, particularly focusing on the seven priority need areas 

• Explore the potential for flexible tenures and tenancy management to contribute more 

to enabling content and confident communities, whilst making the best use of affordable 

housing in the district 

• Enable individuals and communities to understand the benefits to their housing 

circumstances of community involvement, and to access involvement opportunities 

• Enable households to manage the impact of changes to benefits on their housing 

circumstances and shape our housing plans to meet changing needs 


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4. We will have ‘fair and equal access to housing’ when 

• Vulnerable people are able to live independently, particularly 

– Older people 

– Offenders 

– People fleeing domestic abuse 

– Young people 

• There is a reduction in homelessness 

• People are able to sustain their home 


• Plans described in our Homelessness Strategy which aim to prevent homelessness 

through better provision of support for vulnerable households, better temporary 

accommodation provision and improved customer services. We also provide a range 

of services for example a rent deposit and bond guarantee scheme and an independent 

living skills course aimed at the under 25’s 

• Our involvement in the Leicestershire County Supporting People Partnership to direct 

investment in housing support services into the district. The Council also contributes to 

housing support services for young adults, women fleeing domestic abuse, young families 

and those at risk of homelessness 

• Our sub-regional protocol to enable residents ready to move onto semi-independent/ 

independent living, a Leicestershire-wide protocol for homeless 16/17 year olds and 

a new pre-eviction protocol 

• Our role as the pilot for First Contact 18+: a county-wide single point 

of contact to help vulnerable people get assistance from a wide 

range of low level, preventative services that is now available 

to anyone aged 18+ 


• Introduce a more holistic approach to working 

with households at risk of homelessness, 

linking housing with employment opportunities 

and tenancy sustainment services, and increasing 

housing support to prevent homelessness 

• Establish what older people want in terms 

of accommodation and support services, 

and shape our offer appropriately 

• Enable people in need of support/ vulnerable 

households to access suitable and affordable 

housing and support as they resettle in 

the community 

• Provide additional support for domestic abuse 

victims and perpetrators, raising awareness 

of the Sanctuary Scheme and providing more 

information and advice to people 

• Develop protocols between housing providers 

and criminal justice organisations to support 

a reduction in re-offending 

‘I am delighted that I 

can remain in Appleby Magna 

and will no longer have to look 

elsewhere to live” - former 

Parish Vicar, Stella. 


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Foreword 

North West Leicestershire Housing Strategy 2011-2015 

By Councillor Trevor Pendleton 

Portfolio Holder Planning & Engagement 

This document - our housing strategy, describes how we intend to 

ensure that the housing needs and aspirations of our residents are met 

now and in the future. Our strategy has been developed by the North West 

Leicestershire Strategic Housing Partnership, a group that brings together 

a wide range of organisations working across the district that are committed 

to improving housing conditions and housing choice and encouraging pride 

in local communities. The Partnership wants to make sure that we use our 

collective resources to make North West Leicestershire a place where 

people and businesses feel they belong and are proud to call home. 

We have developed this strategy at a time of unprecedented change and 

there remain a lot of unknowns but we think that a clear direction and leadership is what is needed 

at a time of uncertainty. There are things we do know: the government has ambitions to reduce the 

national defi cit through signifi cant cuts in public spending, to rebalance the economy between regions, 

the public and private sector, to improve health outcomes and tackle climate change. We also know a 

lot about North West Leicestershire and what we would like to see in the future. Our strategy is based 

on this. We have, however, chosen to have an annual action plan so we can take opportunities and 

address challenges in a fast changing environment, whilst remaining focussed on our ultimate goal. 

We also know that we have to support individuals and communities so that they are more able to 

contribute to society, to take control of the services they receive and the choices they make, and to 

hold us to account (Big Society). Our strategy and annual plan describe the opportunities that exist 

for local input and what we will do to enable people to take part. It also describes how we will work 

with people to manage the impact of changes to their housing circumstances that might result from 

the economy eg, job losses, and from welfare reform. 

There are challenging times ahead for everyone. Working together will make this a lot easier. 

As well as input from offi cers working across the Council, we would like to thank the following key 

partners for their assistance in developing the new district–wide strategy and their commitment in 

helping us to deliver and monitor the annual action plan over the next 4 years 

Leicestershire Police Authority 

Leicestershire Supporting People team 

Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Trust 

North West Leicestershire Council for Voluntary Services 

Tenants & residents 

District Councillors 

Homes & Community Agency 

Job Centre Plus 

Charnwood Borough Council 

South Derbyshire District Council 

North West Leicestershire Homelessness Project 

South West Leicestershire Citizen’s Advice Bureau 

National Offender Management Service 

David Wilson Homes 

East Midlands Housing Association 

Nottingham Community Housing Association 

Waterloo Housing Group 

Private sector landlord representatives 


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Contents 

Executive Summary 

Our Strategic Approach to Housing : Foreword from the Portfolio Member 

1 Our vision 9 

2 Our priorities at a glance 11 

3 Our area – the challenges we face 12 

3.1 Limited choice of housing and lack of affordable homes 12 

3.2 The role of existing homes and housing conditions 14 

3.3 Health and housing needs of a changing population 15 

3.4 Reducing household income and local capacity to respond to housing needs 15 

3.5 Areas with concentrations of issues 16 

4 Outcomes in detail 17 

4.1 Homes for all 17 

4.2 Healthy Homes 22 

4.3 Content and confident communities 28 

4.4 Fair and equal access to housing 30 


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1. Our vision 

North West Leicestershire will be a place where people and businesses feel they belong 

and are proud to call home. 

This strategy describes how we will contribute to achieving the vision. We want to see: 

1. Homes for all 

2. Healthy homes 

3. Content and confident communities 

4. Fair and equal access to housing 

We describe what these outcomes will look like in the next chapter, and how we will achieve these 

in Chapter 4. Our annual plan provides further detail. 

The way in which we overcome challenges is important. As a partnership we will: 

• share information and develop a common evidence base to inform decisions 

• identify and overcome barriers together 

• pool resources where this makes sense 

• communicate clearly with each other 


Page 10 

We will enable our customers and communities to: 

• make informed choices about the services they receive and the homes they live in 

• inform and influence the shape of investment and services 

• monitor our progress and hold us to account 

How we will make sure this strategy is delivered 

This strategy has been developed by a partnership between North West Leicestershire District Council 

and numerous other key partners working in the area. A full list of those partners is listed in the 

Foreword. The Strategic Housing Partnership will be responsible for this strategy and making sure it is 

delivered. 

It will: 

• Meet twice a year to review progress against the action plan, and to take action when things are 

not being delivered 

• Report on progress, issues and trends in the sector, opportunities and threats, and will seek input 

and decisions to inform the direction of the strategy and action plan, once a year to: 

– North West Leicestershire’s Local Strategic Partnership – a partnership of organisations 

working in the district to achieve the vision described at the start of this strategy 

– The Council 

– Residents, employers and those working in the district – 

• Share information on a regular basis, particularly in relation to matters that may affect the delivery 

of the strategy, and/or housing needs. This is important in the current climate where the impact of 

policy proposals from the government and the economy is unknown. 

Smaller groups of relevant partners will come together to deliver the action plan, sharing 

information and resources. There are a number of actions in our annual plan where we want to 

hear residents’, customers’ and other stakeholders’ views. 

We have indicated these with a green speech bubble 

For further information about this strategy, the action plan and opportunities for involvement, or in 

relation to housing matters in general please contact Sue Hallam at North West Leicestershire DC; 

tel: 01530 454 612 or email: sue.hallam@nwleicestershire.gov.uk 


Page 11 

2. Our priorities at a glance 

2.1 A total view : key characteristics 

For each outcome we have agreed what we want to see as a result of our action. We will 

focus our activities and resources on these objectives over the next four years – they 

are our priorities. 

Further detail on these priorities and related actions is given in chapter 4. 

We will have homes for all when: 

• There are new homes suitable to meet different aspirations and needs 


– Property sizes and types reflect needs & aspirations including smaller accommodation 

and bungalows 

– There is more shared accommodation 

– Temporary accommodation is available 

– Supported accommodation is available 

– Gypsies, travellers and travelling showpeople have access to good quality site provision 


• New homes are well-designed and sustainable 

We will have healthy homes when: 

• Homes will be warm, safe and well maintained 

• Homes will be well-managed 

• Homes will be flexible to meet changing needs 

• People are able to move if their needs change 

• Neighbourhood environments will support a good quality of life 

We will have content and confident communities when: 

• People are able to afford a wider range of housing options 


• People understand the options open to them to maintain or improve their housing circumstances 

We will have fair and equal access to housing when: 



– People with a learning disability 

– Offenders 



– There is a reduction in homelessness 

– People are able to sustain their home 


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3. Our area – the challenges we face 

This chapter describes the challenges that we need to overcome if we want to achieve 

our vision. Further evidence of the issues can be found here http:// www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/ 

housing_strategy 

Key challenges 

1. There is a limited choice of housing available to people in North West Leicestershire, 

including a lack of affordable homes. 

2. Improvement is needed in the condition of existing homes in both the social and private 

housing sector, particularly to improve health and wellbeing. The private rented sector 

will need to play a greater role in the future in meeting housing needs as other options 

are limited. 

3. There is an increasingly older population, and people are living longer but not necessarily 

with healthier lives. Other households also have additional health needs which impact on 

their housing requirements. 

4. The economic downturn, government spending plans and welfare reform are expected 

to reduce household income, increase the need for affordable housing and increase 

vulnerability – but our collective capacity to respond is also reducing. 

5. There are a number of areas within the district with concentrations of issues, and there’s 

a danger these areas will not improve, or will get worse. 

Here is a summary of the facts that have helped us to identify the main challenges. 

3.1 Limited choice of housing and lack of affordable homes 

• The private housing sector makes up 85% 

of housing in the district. Although higher 

than the proportion of stock in this sector in 

England as a whole (82%) this masks a 

smaller proportion of private rented homes – 

7% compared to 11%. There are 1,830 social 

housing units owned by housing associations 

including intermediate rents and shared 

ownership properties. This is a very low 

proportion of the overall housing stock when 

compared with the national picture ie, there 

are fewer affordable homes compared to 

other areas. 

• The most recent ‘Place’ survey of residents in 

NWL found that out of a total of 21 indicators, 

affordable decent housing is the fourth most 

important factor in making somewhere a good 

place to live. There is a need per annum for 355 

affordable homes across the District 1 ; 

280 should be for social rent whilst the 

remaining 75 homes should be provided 

as low cost home ownership or intermediate 

rented. Between 35 and 45 properties per 

year should be provided in rural areas. 

There are particular unmet needs for 

affordable rented family housing and 

suitable accommodation for older people. 

• There is a lack of suitable supported 

housing for vulnerable people such as 

young people, people fleeing domestic 

violence, offenders, Gypsy and Travellers 

and changing families i.e. separated parents. 

There is also a shortage of residential pitches 

for the Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling 

Showpeople population. 

1 

Strategic Housing Market Assessment 


Page 13 

• The government’s proposal for the local 

housing allowance shared room rate to be 

set at 35 years of age in 2012, rather than 

25, may present a greater need for shared 

accommodation: there is a limited amount 

of shared accommodation in the district. 

• Prior to the review of the housing register in 

December 2010 there were 997 households 

on the Council’s Housing Register. East 

Midlands Housing Association (EMHA), the 

second largest provider of social housing in 

the district after the Council, currently has 

approximately 900 on their waiting list. 

• New housing development is restricted 

by the River Mease in respect of water 

quality. Parts of the surrounding area are 

designated as a special area of conservation. 

The District Council is working with the 

Environment Agency and Natural England 

to resolve this issue, including commissioning 

a study to identify possible solutions. Until this 

matter is resolved the scope for new housing, 

including affordable housing, in the catchment, 

which includes Ashby de la Zouch (the second 

largest town in the district) and Measham, is 

extremely limited. 

• The Council currently owns 4,494 properties 

to rent but on average only 350 are re-let 

each year. 


Page 14 

3.2 The role of existing homes and housing conditions 

• The housing market has stalled. It is very 

difficult for those who want to buy a home 

to get a mortgage due to lending restrictions. 

People who want to sell their home cannot, 

and house prices have dropped leaving 

people in negative equity. In 2007 there were 

a total of 2023 house sales; by 2009 the total 

number of sales in NWL was nearly half the 

level of 2007 sales. Average house prices 

have also been affected: in 2007 the 

average price was £176,897; the average 

price in 2009 was £160,784. Nationally 

this is increasing demand for the private 

rented sector. 

• At 1st December 2010 there were 1,355 

empty properties. Of these 918 are exempt 

from the Empty Property legislation for a 

number of reasons, leaving 437 as long 

term empties which could be subject to 

enforcement action by the Council. 

• An estimated 2 10,900 dwellings (32.5% of 

the private housing stock) were non decent 

in 2008. This is higher than the proportion 

recorded for non-decent homes in England 

(27.1%). 2,470 vulnerable households lived 

in non-decent homes. This is estimated to 

have reduced by work undertaken by the 

council’s private sector housing team with 

East Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA) 

funding. Non-decent dwellings are mostly 

associated with pre-1919 properties in the 

private rented sector, converted flats and 

small terraced houses. There are also 

associations with owner occupiers on the 

lowest incomes and those in receipt of 

benefit. Non decency is also associated 

with heads of households aged 16-24, 

50-59 and 75-84. 

• Fuel poverty statistics (2006) estimate 

that the incidence rate in the district is 

12.4%. This is likely to be higher now 

due to an increase in fuel prices, a rise 

in unemployment and an increase in the 

number of households on benefit. 

Government proposals include a reduction in 

funding for the fuel poverty grant Warm Front 

which is likely to impact on low income and 

vulnerable households. 

• At March 2010, 55.1% of the Council’s 

4,500 homes were non-decent: the Council 

target of 45% non-decent was not achieved 

in 2010/11 and continued under investment 

means that non-decency levels will rise year 

on year. To just achieve a minimum standard 

of decency £10.1million needs to be invested 

in our Council homes in 2010-11. The 

Council has recently been successful in 

securing £21m of HCA funding to improve 

78% homes between 2012 and 2015. 

2 

2008 Private sector housing stock condition survey 


Page 15 

3.3 Health and housing needs of a changing population 

• The population of North West Leicestershire is currently 91,600 and this is estimated to rise by 

nearly 8% by 2020. Many new households will be formed, for example as young people move 

out from the family home, or if married couples split up, and these households will all need a 

place to live. 

• In 2008 there were an estimated 15,100 people age 65 and over. This is projected to rise to 23,700 

by 2025, an increase of 57%. Increased life expectancy does not always mean extra years in good 

health. As people get older their housing needs change. Adaptations may be needed so people 

can stay in their home, or people may need to move to receive support and care. Older people 

are under-occupying homes but there is little suitable alternative accommodation. 

• Across the district there are higher than average levels of households which includes someone 

with special needs or health issues: 

• The prevalence of mental health problems in North West Leicestershire between 2008 and 2025 

is expected to rise. 

• There are 312 known people aged 19 and over in North West Leicestershire with learning 

disabilities, considerably fewer than the estimated number of 1,676 people. The majority of 

people with learning disabilities are aged between 20 and 29 years. 

• Alcohol misuse is a problem for almost 30,000 people. 

• North West Leicestershire has the highest under-18 conception rate in Leicestershire. 

3.4 Reducing household income and local capacity to respond to housing needs 

• The number of people unemployed for 

more than six months (May 2010) has 

been increasing steadily since October 

2008 and now represents 38% of the total 

unemployment figures.Unemployment may 

rise. This can result in people being unable 

to pay their rent or mortgage; or pay their 

bills. Eviction and repossession often leads 

to homelessness coupled with its associated 

socio-economic and emotional costs. 

• The proportion of residents employed in 

lower skilled occupations is high (38%) 

in NWL: higher than the national average. 

The average weekly wage is £483.40, 

(about the national average, 2009). 

Overall the percentage of people with no 

qualifications is high and above the national 

average. The skills gap creates a situation 

where many local people are unable to take 

advantage of higher salaries. 

• The number of people being accepted as 

statutory homeless in the district reduced from 

2008/09 despite the recession and the rise 

in unemployment, largely due to the increase 

in preventative work that is being carried out 

by the council’s housing advice team: during 

2009/10 the Council’s Housing Advice team 

prevented 407 cases of homelessness, an 

increase from 289 in the year. The economic 

downturn has seen an increase in the demand 

for housing advice services by around 85% 

over a year, with the 3 most common enquiries 

dealt with coming from young people, victims 

of domestic abuse, and households from the 

private rented sector whose tenancies have 

come to an end. 

• Welfare reform will reduce income for 

households in receipt of benefits, limiting 

their housing options and, for some, possibly 

requiring a move to smaller and/or shared 

accommodation (see chapter 4 outcome 3 

for more information). 


Page 16 

3.5 Areas with concentrations of issues 

• North West Leicestershire is more affected by socio-economic deprivation than Leicestershire 

as a whole: 3.5% of the population live in neighbourhoods that have been classified as the 

most deprived nationally. 

• North West Leicestershire has a number of priority neighbourhoods. These are Coalville, 

Thringstone, Whitwick, Greenhill, Ashby (there are large local inequalities in these wards), 

Measham, Ibstock, Moira and Castle Donington. 

• Deprivation is strongly linked to poor health, poor housing and poor local environment. There is 

potential for communities to become ‘ghettos’ as people can’t move and can only afford to live in 

certain areas. 


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4. Outcomes in detail 

4.1 Homes for all 

4.1.1 What is needed? 

To meet different housing needs and aspirations, a range of housing types, 

tenure, size, location and affordability should be available. 

The housing ‘offer’ can be achieved in a number of ways, and an approach which combines these 

is most likely to achieve the outcome in the current, unpredictable, economic and policy context: 

• New housing supply is delivered by private developers and house builders 

• New housing supply is delivered through public subsidy from the Homes and Communities 

Agency and/or other sources, typically by housing associations but sometimes with Council 

support. This is the usual route to the development of specific accommodation that enables 

the provision of housing with support 

• Empty homes are brought back into use through enforcement, the use of subsidy, 

investment from home owners or from other partners eg, housing associations 

• Existing homes are converted into new forms of accommodation eg, large homes into 

a number of smaller homes 

• Under-occupied, homes are used to accommodate large households through enabling 

household moves to more appropriately sized accommodation 

To enable the offer, the following is needed: 

• Robust evidence that identifies, on a very local basis, housing need and aspirations and the 

viability of meeting needs 

• A good understanding of the availability of resources to meet needs eg, land, assets, 

subsidy, planning contributions etc, and innovation in how resources can be deployed 

in different situations 

• A clear and simple planning system that supports sustainable development 

• An understanding of housing need and aspirations in local areas by residents and 

communities to enable their support for new housing development, and clear benefits 

arising from development eg, improvements in the infrastructure, amenities etC 

• Information, advice and incentives to encourage households and organisations to participate 

in the housing market to the benefit of the wider community. To enable this the right options 

for people need to be in place eg, smaller accommodation in the right place 


Page 18 

4.1.2 What are we doing now that may no longer be sustainable, be severely curtailed or at risk? 

Over the lasts 3 years the overall number of houses built including affordable housing has 

decreased. Developers are building fewer homes as households simply cannot afford to 

purchase them, despite house prices falling. 

Year Total Affordable number Affordable % 

2007/08 364 46 13 

2008/09 241 18 8 

2009/10 241 89 37 

2010/11 198 63 32 

Public subsidy to develop new affordable housing has reduced considerably: the national capital 

budget for affordable housing has been reduced to £4.4bn over the next four years, from £8.4bn 

over the previous three years. Alongside this reduction, the terms of funding have changed; homes 

subsidised by the Homes and Communities Agency are expected to be rent for an ‘affordable rent’ 

– up to 80% of market rent, higher than social rent. This is also likely to require the conversion of a 

number of existing social rent homes in the district – thereby decreasing the number of social rent 

homes whilst increasing the number of affordable rent homes. Housing providers will also be able 

to offer alternative lengths of tenure, with a minimum period of two years, to enable existing homes 

to meet needs more effectively eg, to reduce under-occupation. The Council and partners will need 

to consider and manage the impact of this new affordable rent regime on the supply of homes and 

meeting local housing need (the use of flexible tenures is discussed under outcome 3, 

confident communities). 

North West Leicestershire has a variety of supported housing provision, for example a new purpose 

built scheme for people with profound learning disabilities, a hostel for young homeless people 

under 25, a refuge for victims of domestic abuse and their children, accommodation with support 

for people with physical disabilities and supported accommodation for older people. However, this 

accommodation is at risk from funding cuts in revenue for the housing support and care provided 

to households living in this accommodation (discussed in outcome 4, fair and equal access to 

housing). The development of supported accommodation with subsidy in the future is also in 

doubt as the HCA’s affordable housing framework requires that service charges are part of the 

new affordable rent. 

Whilst the economy remains in recession private developers and house builders are not investing 

in new homes, particularly because households are unable to access affordable mortgage finance. 

This also reduces our potential to secure additional affordable homes through planning agreements. 

The national planning framework is changing. Intended to make planning a simpler process so 

that homes and other developments are built more quickly, the government is also enabling local 

communities to have a greater involvement in what gets built and where it should be built. This may 

mean that communities will not support new housing, even though there is a clear need for it. 

The government has pledged to reduce the regulatory burden for house builders making it easier 

to build. Local standards are expected to be developed. The Council has recently introduced a design 

initiative called ‘Our Place TM ’, aiming to create buildings and spaces that enhance the character of the 


Page 19 

District, look good, work well, are environmentally sensitive and promise to stand the test of time. 

However, the requirements of the design initiative are proving challenging for some developers, 

leading to delays in the planning process. 

Empty Property Grants have been offered on long term empty property as incentives to owners to 

return the house to occupation. Funding for these grants was limited but they encouraged owners to 

make contact with the Council. There was a significant drop in the number of owners contacting the 

Council when funding for the grants ran out. 

A priority of the Council is to secure the revitalisation of Coalville Town Centre. This will involve 

attracting additional businesses and retailers into the town centre. However, such improvements will 

only be achieved if it is commercially viable. Whilst a significant amount of new housing development 

can help to achieve this by increasing the size of the local population, this will take place over a long 

period of time. Furthermore, the current economic climate will, in the short term, make it more difficult 

to attract the investment in to the town centre required. 

4.1.3 What are we doing and plan to do that is sustainable? 

Our priorities 

• There are new homes suitable to meet different aspirations and needs 


– Property sizes and types reflect needs & aspirations including smaller accommodation 

and bungalows 

– Supported housing is available 

– Gypsies, travellers and travelling showpeople have access to good quality site provision 


• New homes are well-designed and sustainable 

What we are already doing…… 

• Our Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document requires a choice of homes in new 

developments. While it is recognised that smaller properties are required to meet the housing 

requirements of the growing number of smaller households, the Council will also seek to provide 

properties that not only meet current needs but offer flexibility in the future should household 

composition change. 

• The council requires that any new housing developments over 5 or 15 homes (depending on the 

area) must contribute a proportion of new affordable homes. This requirement is described in our 

Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which has recently been revised 

and adopted based on a viability assessment (we require a lower proportion of homes 

for affordability but a higher threshold in some areas) 

• The issue of housing growth, both in terms of numbers and location to meet future needs, 

including the amount and type of affordable housing, are matters which will be addressed in the 

Core Strategy. A Leicestershire-wide study currently underway, will help to establish new targets 

and we will consider the outcome of this in delivering our strategy. 

• The Council has worked with Leicestershire partners to develop a local investment plan (LIP) for 

affordable homes - settlements with populations under 3,000, where a housing need has been 

identified, have been highlighted as priority areas. The Leicestershire & Rutland Rural Housing 


Page 20 

“I love 

the village & wanted 

to stay here. We’re very proud to 

live on this scheme, it’s 

a gorgeous home” 

Mrs Malyon of Heather and her family were living 

above the village pub which wasn’t ideal as a 

family home. They were allocated a new 

property on a small rural exception site 

scheme at David Taylor Close 

in Heather. 


Page 21 

Enabler is supported financially by Leicestershire rural LA’s, Leicestershire County Council and 3 

housing associations working across the County. Officers from the funding authorities steer and 

monitor the work of the Enabler through a Steering Group. We delivered 34 properties in rural 

seltlements in 2010-11 with a further 34 expected in 2011-12. 

• In 2008-09 we secured £8.5 million in funding from the Government funded Homes and 

Communities Agency, for new homes in this district. In 2009-10 despite less funding available 

we still managed to secure £2.8 million. This is in addition to the housing association investment 

and contributions from developers as part of planning applications. The Council has also made 

available £670,000 worth of land to enable new homes to be built. 

• We secured around £1.3m from the HCA, the Department of Health Homes and East Midlands 

Housing Association to develop the ‘Daybreak Scheme’ - a purpose built 8 bed scheme for adults 

with profound learning disabilities. The scheme was completed in early 2011 and a further £1.12m 

of revenue funding has been committed by Leicestershire Supporting People and the Department 

of Health Homes for support. 

• There is an Empty Property Strategy, approved in 2008, for the area. The strategy has a wide 

range of incentives and sanctions to ensure that long term empty properties are returned to use, 

including advice regarding selling or renting the property, and offering to carry out a Housing Health 

and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) inspection to determine what works, if any, are needed to be 

done to make the property decent. A policy and procedure for Enforced Sales has been drafted 

which has to be approved by members. 

The Daybreak Scheme 


Page 22 

Our plans include 

• Develop a flexible planning and development process to enable delivery of new homes; 

considering alternatives to onsite provision; looking at the use of S106 and Community 

Infrastructure Levy; updating the affordable delivery document and design guidance 

• Identify alternative delivery mechanisms for the delivery of rural affordable housing........................ 

• Work with housing associations to inform and implement the HCA’s affordable 

rent programme in the district 

• Implement and analyse, a local housing needs survey programme................................................... 

• Undertake an options appraisal of solutions to the River Mease and the barriers 

to development presented here with the Environment Agency and Natural England 

• Review all council owned land to identify the potential for house building......................................... 

• Introduce a policy within the Core Strategy to meet the needs of Gypsies, Travellers 

and Travelling Showpeople.................................................................................................................. 

• Develop and implement a robust empty homes enforcement policy 

• Develop a local or sub-regional under-occupation incentive scheme, linked to the proposed local 

authority strategic tenancy policy (tenancy strategy) (also see outcome 3 – confident communities)... 

4.2 Healthy homes - Marmot Review Fair Society, Healthy Lives 


Homes and neighbourhoods impact on people’s health and wellbeing; housing is a 

wider determinant of health 3 and therefore we should direct our actions so that we 

contribute to improved health outcomes and a reduction in health inequalities. More 

specifically we need to: 

• Improve housing conditions, reducing the hazards that increase the risk of illness including damp, 

mould, cold and structural defects. 

• Improve and develop the environment around the home so it is free from pollution and crime, offers 

access to open and green space, enables connections to employment, education and amenities, 

and supports social and community networks 

• Enable people to feel secure and safe, supporting people to access and sustain settled 

accommodation that meets their needs, and enabling people to have choice and control 

• Recognise that some households and communities have additional health needs that require 

a different housing response, for example older people, people living with disability or mental 

illness, ethnic minority groups, homeless households, refugees and asylum seekers, Gypsies 

and Travellers. 

There are a range of responses the housing sector can provide to improve health 

and wellbeing: 

• Developing and implementing appropriate spatial planning policy and guidance 

3 

Marmot Review Fair Society, Healthy Lives 


Page 23 

• Providing information and advice to enable people to make choices about their 

health and housing at different stages in life eg, when they leave home, 

have a family or when they retire 

• Taking environmental health action to ensure homes are healthy and free from hazards 

• Investing in new, healthy, homes eg, Lifetime Homes, and in improvements and adaptations 

to existing homes 

• Providing housing and neighbourhood management services to people renting affordable homes 

• Supporting households who are vulnerable to crisis and to sustain independent living 

• Enabling access to affordable sources of energy (particularly relevant in North West 

Leicestershire where many homes are on solid fuel) 

It is important that our approach supports people living in all forms of tenure, particularly as the 

demographic of households living in owner occupation and the private rented sector is changing; 

responses will increasingly need to be appropriate to this part of the population. 

The best outcomes will also be achieved if we direct housing activity so that is aligned 

to, and supportive of, the plans of health (public and the NHS) and social care partners. 


Page 24 

North West Leicestershire District Council participates in the Leicestershire Chief Housing Officers 

Group; it is intended that this group, alongside an elected member group, will have representation on 

the new Leicestershire Health and Wellbeing Board. The Board will bring housing together with other 

determinants of health, and use evidence in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment to inform 

a health and wellbeing strategy and commissioning plans. 

This outcome specifically considers housing conditions, adaptations and affordable warmth 

response; the other outcomes cover spatial planning, information, advice and support. 


The Council has targeted improvements in the private sector following the house condition survey. 

It introduced targeted area working for the grant monies provided by the East Midlands Regional 

Assembly in the form of the Decent Homes Intervention Programme (DHIP) Landlord Grants and 

Empty Property Grants. The Council achieved the Decent Homes target of 70% decent homes in 

the private sector lived in by vulnerable people by October 2010 and has continued to improve 

the standard towards the 75% target: it is estimated that the number of non-decent homes has been 

reduced by 220. However, the quality of housing may deteriorate as a result of reductions in capital 

to invest in improvements to homes in the private sector; there is no external funding available. 

Insufficient capital resources have resulted in an increase in the percentage of non-decent 

council-owned homes from 55.1% in March 2010 to 70% in March 2011. This is expected to rise 

to 78% by the end of 2011-12. However, funding of £21m from the HCA has now been secured 

from 2012. All council homes will now be made decent by 2015. 

As of January 2010 there were 70 people on the Council’s waiting list requiring a Disabled 

Facilities Grant (DFG) (this does not include council tenants waiting for aids and adaptations). 

Some people have been waiting for over 2 years. Although Government spending for Disabled 

Facilities Grant (DFG) has been maintained (£222,100 in 2010/11, £224,000 in 2011/12) and the 

council has increased its contribution (£104,107 in 2010/11, £143,330 in 2011/12), need will continue 

to outstrip demand. The reform to the Housing Revenue Account is proposed to include additional 

resources for disabled housing adaptations to council owned homes. 

The Government has recently removed the HCA building standards. In the future local authorities 

will be required to develop their own ‘Local Standards Framework’ for affordable homes built 

after March 2012. The development industry and councils will be required to develop ideas, with 

Government help, to ensure the framework proposed meets the needs of local communities, 

and don’t impose unrealistic burdens on developers.The new local framework will be implemented 

through the National Planning Policy Framework, which will be introduced by April 2012; this may 

require changes to our own planning framework and guidance. 

The Government’s Green Bill has shifted the focus of investment in meeting carbon reduction targets 

to spending that can be provided by the private sector, for example it has proposed new obligations 

for energy suppliers and landlords to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes that are hard to 

heat, are home to vulnerable people and where tenants request improvements, and the government 

has committed to investment in renewables. 

The health and social care sector is undergoing considerable reform, with an expectation that 

savings will be made. There is real potential for the reductions in funding for housing activity, social 

housing and welfare reform to impact negatively on health outcomes. The new statutory Health and 

Wellbeing Partnership will operate at a County-level; action will be needed to ensure housing is not 

‘lost’ in new commissioning arrangements. 


Page 25 

“I would like to 

express my grateful thanks to 

the Council for the ramp that has been 

built outside my back door. It has been a 

very big help in many ways”. 

Mr Marshall of Measham had a ramp installed 

outside his property to enable him to 

use his wheelchair. 


Page 26 



• Homes will be warm, safe and well maintained 

• Homes will be well-managed 

• Homes will be flexible to meet changing needs 

– People are able to move if their needs change 

• Neighbourhood environments will support a good quality of life 


• Issues of management of the private rented sector are dealt with through the Landlords Exchange 

Forum. The agenda is provided by landlords with additional information provided historically by 

Environmental Health. 

• The Council’s private sector housing team monitors housing conditions in the privately 

owned sector including privately rented accommodation. Since the beginning of 2009 they have 

inspected 233 homes to ensure they are safe and secure. We have recently introduced Homes in 

Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing. Our licensing scheme is fully operational with 15 premises 

now identified, licensed and routinely inspected. 

• The Council’s Green Footprint Challenge aims to change the way we think about our local 

environment. Its intention is to encourage and challenge residents, businesses and community 

groups to take action to reduce their carbon footprint and improve opportunities for wildlife. 

Encouraging sustainable urban design also forms part of the ‘Green Footprints Challenge’. 

• The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership is aiming to achieve a low carbon 

economy ‘where homes and jobs are aligned’. It is expected that this will be enabled through 

plans for housing and infrastructure but the detail is still in development. 

“The design of the 

doors is brilliant and they have 

made a significant improvement to my 

home. I’m saving money on my heating and 

my house is more secure.” 

Mr John Baggaley of Ashby has had 

a new door as part of the HPIP door 

replacement programme. 


Page 27 

• All new affordable housing is designed to have a minimum impact on energy use and reduce 

harmful carbon emissions. All new affordable homes, built with Homes and Communities Agency 

Funding, have to meet building standards in excess of standard building regulations. Affordable 

properties are usually larger and more energy efficient than equivalent open market properties 

because of the standards that need to be met to obtain funding. 

• The Council’s current policy in relation to its own housing stock is to exchange failing solid fuel 

appliances with gas fired alternatives where mains service provision lends the opportunity. 


• Develop a Building for Life Supplementary Planning Document that will support healthy 

homes and neighbourhoods 

• Improve the condition of council owned homes, implementing the 2011/2012 ‘elemental approach’ 

investment programme, developing and tendering the 2012/2015 investment programme........... 

• Improve the condition of homes in the private sector, identifying non-decency through 

surveys and reports from residents and responding through working with landlords and 

enforcement action........... 

• Improve affordable warmth, exploring the potential to improve access to affordable energy supplies 

for council tenants and advising private sector landlords and tenants of opportunities to improve 

their homes eg, the Green Deal 

• Improve the Disabled Facilities Grant programme, working with other authorities and organisations 

and updating the district policy so that it is in line with the County Council policy.............................. 

“It was impossible to turn my 

wheelchair round. The redesign of the 

bathroom really changed my life. 

I couldn’t have coped without the changes 

– they’ve made my life so much easier” 

Mrs Miles of Measham received a Disabled 

Facilities Grant to create a wet room with full 

wheelchair accessibility so she could be 

discharged from hospital. 


Page 28 

4.3 Content and confident communities 


The capability of individuals and communities to meet their own housing needs is 

more important than ever; public spending in housing (amongst other sectors) has 

reduced significantly and we are less able to provide for people. Instead our approach 

needs to be one that balances ‘universal’ with ‘targeted’ ie, we enable the majority of 

the population to meet their own needs whilst targeting populations/individuals who 

need additional support. To do this we need to: 

• Have a robust understanding of our communities, their housing needs and aspirations and 

ability to meet these on their own – we need to understand the socio-economic circumstances 

of households and the housing options available to different circumstances 

• Identify customers, and potential customers, of our housing services who would benefit from 

services and opportunities that would enhance their capability and capacity to meet their own 

housing needs, and enable access to these eg, education, skills development, employment, 

volunteering etc, 

• Develop the capability of individuals and communities to help each other in meeting their 

housing-related needs 

• Enable the provision of good quality information and advice, available at the right place and right 

time, to enable people to make choices and take responsibility for their own actions. This includes 

information and advice about housing options, alongside opportunities to change housing 

circumstances eg, increase household income 

• Ensure homes and neighbourhoods are linked to education, training and employment, 

through planning policy and guidance 

Clearly developing individuals and communities to meet their own needs is not simply about 

improving their housing outcomes; developing capability and improving the provision of information 

and advice to support this are key parts of health and social care reforms, amongst others. For this 

reason our approach to achieving this outcome will be led in part by a new ‘Supporting Local Needs 

Partnership’. This partnership will report to the Local Strategic Partnership, with input from the 

Strategic Housing Partnership with a remit to improve skills, education and training. 


In 2013 reforms to the benefits system will be made. A cap on benefits of around £500 a week for 

couple and lone parent households and £350 a week for single adult households will be introduced; 

households’ under-occupying homes also face a reduced housing benefit; households under the 

age of 35 will only be eligible for a shared room allowance (the current age limit is 25). Affected 

households will need to find the shortfall in income or may be required to move. In some cases the 

type of accommodation required eg, smaller homes or shared homes may be limited and households 

will not be able to live in the community they are currently residing in. 


Page 29 

Between April and December 2010, 106 vulnerable persons/families were housed in the private 

rented sector through the Available Properties website, a service offered by the Council’s Private 

Sector Housing Team. During 2009/10 the council assisted around 160 households to secure a home 

with a private landlord. If rents no longer fall within local housing allowance (LHA) limits or if LHA 

payments are reduced this may affect our ability to access privately rented accommodation. An 

increase in homelessness, particularly among single people and households living in the private 

sector, may result. 

The impact of welfare reform, amongst other factors such as the increase in capital gains tax, may 

mean that the number of landlords who are prepared to let homes to customers in receipt of benefits 

will reduce. The introduction of Universal Credit may exacerbate the issue for both the private and 

social rented sector. At this stage it is proposed that rent payments are made direct to tenants; this 

has potential to impact severely on business viability and planning. 

The government has proposed that local authorities will have a new duty to publish a strategic 

tenancy policy setting out the broad objectives to be taken into consideration by individual social 

landlords in developing their tenancy policies. Whilst this presents an opportunity to take a strategic 

approach around the use of new and existing homes in partnership with other Leicestershire local 

authorities and housing providers, this depends on the capacity of organisations to participate 

The Strategic Housing service has part-funded a CAB generalist money advice service since October 

2009 to free up and make better use of the specialist case workers time. This will need to be reviewed 

as part of the Strategic Housing service review due to be undertaken during 2011-12. Any decision to 

reduce or cease funding the service will have an adverse impact on the capacity of the specialist 

case workers. 



• People are able to afford a wider range of quality housing options 


• People understand the options open to them to maintain or improve their 

housing circumstances 


• Consideration is given to the provision of employment and impact on employment in determining 

planning applications 

• The Council has recently introduced a choice based lettings system in partnership with the 6 

other district authorities across Leicestershire to enable improved access to housing. This will be 

important as people’s housing needs are changing. A common allocations policy underpins the new 

sub-regional scheme making it less confusing for home seekers. 

• The Government has introduced new arrangements to enable a sustainable and resilient economy 

to grow. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) have been introduced, replacing the economic 

growth role of regional development agencies. The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise 

Partnership (LLLEP) plans to provide ‘strategic leadership’ to housing, planning and infrastructure, 

and enabling rural affordable housing development, but other activities have the potential for 

alignment with housing related services, for example action to address economic and financial 

inclusion, which in turn will support households to contribute and benefit from economic growth. 


Page 30 


• Improve access to better paid and secure employment opportunities for workless households and 

households on a low income, for example by reviewing current information and advice and taking 

action to improve this 

• Work with employers to identify and overcome barriers to their investment in the area, for example 

skills of employees, through a new Business Growth and Support Partnership which will link to the 

Leicestershire and Leicester Local Enterprise Partnership 

• Establish a Supporting Local Needs Partnership to co-ordinate action to address disadvantage in 

the district, particularly focussing on the seven priority need areas 

• Explore the potential for flexible tenures and tenancy management to contribute more to enabling 

content and confident communities, whilst making the best use of affordable housing in the district, 

beginning with a workshop with housing associations and the Council’s own landlord service 

• Enable individuals and communities to understand the benefits to their housing circumstances of 

community involvement, and to access involvement opportunities 

• Enable households to manage the impact of changes to benefits on their housing circumstances, 

beginning with identifying those likely to be affected and targeting interventions here. Intelligence 

from this work will inform our plans for the housing stock in the area eg, the need for shared 

accommodation arising from those under the age of 35 affected by welfare reform proposals 

4.4 Fair and equal access to housing 

What 4.4.1 is What needed is needed? 

For the vast majority of the population their housing circumstances are simply 

determined by the level of household income available to spend on housing costs; 

we need to ensure that household income can be increased to improve circumstances. 

We have discussed how we will do this in the previous outcome. 

However, for a significant minority of the population there are other factors that 

impact on their ability to access and afford a home, and their ability to maintain this 

and to live independently. These households have further to travel to reach the same 

opportunities as the majority – they face greater disadvantages and inequalities. 

To address these factors we need to work with others who have a role to play in improving the quality 

of life for these people eg, partners in health and social care, education and employment, community 

safety and criminal justice. Together we need to: 

• Understand the factors that contribute to individual’s housing needs and circumstances, identifying 

those factors that present a risk to settled and secure accommodation and independent living 

• Tailor services to meet needs, overcoming barriers and achieving improved outcomes in a way 

that enables the individual to take decisions and retain control 

• Develop and manage the provider market so that services to vulnerable people are good quality 

and have the necessary safeguarding mechanisms in place. 


Page 31 

What are we doing now that may no longer be sustainable, be severely curtailed or at risk? 

How we afford to meet the housing needs of older people is a growing challenge. Extra care is very 

resource intensive, costly and only meets the need of a small number of people. Leicestershire 

County Council will soon be transferring their residential homes into the private sector and there is 

pressure on the districts to provide Extra Care Housing despite limited evidence locally that this is 

what is required. Research suggests (Leicestershire Older Person’s Housing Needs and Aspirations 

Study May 2010) that older people prefer to stay where they are and be supported to live in their 

own homes. 

Floating support is available to households with specific needs in the district, including older people, 

people with learning disabilities and mental health problems. This is in addition to specific supported 

accommodation (described in outcome one, homes for all). Funding for housing support services 

(Supporting People) by Leicestershire County Council (LCC) has been reduced by 11.6%. This 

funding ‘pot’ is no longer ring-fenced and is subject to cuts in local government spending. Although 

the government has stated that it expects to see services to vulnerable people remain it expects local 

authorities to decide on their own priorities based on a local understanding of the issues. The County 

Council has published a five year strategy for housing support which identifies a number of relevant 

priorities for North West Leicestershire eg, homeless households and frail elderly: working with the 

county to ensure the district’s needs are recognised will be important. 

The government’s homelessness grant is to remain at £100m a year. Although this is not ring fenced 

the Council has chosen to use its allocation of £50,000 for homelessness, a £19,000 increase on the 

2010/11 allocation. Part of this funding will be used to fund a new Landlord Liaison Officer to work 

with private sector landlords. 

What are we doing and plan to do that is sustainable? 




– Offenders 



• There is a reduction in homelessness 

• People are able to sustain their home 

What we are already doing ...... 

• The District-wide Homelessness Strategy 2008-2013 has 3 broad priorities that partners are 

currently working to, namely: 

– Prevention through better provision of support for vulnerable households (The number of people 

being accepted as statutory homeless in the district reduced from 2008/09 despite the recession 

and the rise in unemployment due to the increase in preventative work that is being carried out by 

the council’s housing advice team) 

• Better temporary accommodation provision: and 

• Improved customer service standards and joined up working 

• The District Council represents the needs and plans for the area on the Leicestershire County 

Supporting People Partnership, responsible for directing investment in housing support services 


Page 32 

• Sub-regionally, a “Move-on Plan” protocol has been developed with the intention that all support 

providers will prepare a move-on plan for residents ready to move onto semi-independent/ 

independent living with the aim of preventing repeat homelessness for the most vulnerable. A 

Leicestershire-wide protocol for homeless 16/17 year olds has also been developed with social 

services and a pre-eviction protocol is currently out for consultation with registered providers 

• First Contact – Leicestershire provides a single point of contact to help vulnerable people, over 

the age of 60, get assistance from a wide range of low level, preventative services without having 

to contact them all individually. First Contact was initially run in NWL but we are now part of the 

countywide scheme ensuring that vulnerable people and older people can get in contact with the 

services they need and stay safe and independent in their own homes. Due to the success of the 

scheme this has been renamed First Contact 18+ and has been rolled out countywide from April 

2011 to support anyone aged 18 year or more 

• Financial support is provided by the Council for various housing support projects, including 

supported housing for young adults aged between 16-25 years of age, the women’s refuge, 

Homestart which offers support to young families with children under 5 years of age and to the 

North West Leicestershire Homeless Project which assists those in the district who are homeless 

or threatened with homelessness. Financial support was also provided in 2010-11 

to Loughborough Women’s Aid to increase the availability of outreach work within the district 

• The Council also operates a rent deposit and bond guarantee scheme whereby it will pay up to 

4 weeks rent in advance and give a bond guarantee to the equivalent of 4 weeks rent to assist 

vulnerable homeless to secure 12 month tenancies of decent homes provided by local private 

landlords. Emergency and starter packs are also provided to some households 

• The Council and its partners run an independent living skills course aimed at the under 25’s. 

The course is fully accredited and the young people who attend not only learn skills such as 

basic DIY, household budgeting and cooking they also gain credits towards formal qualifications. 


Page 33 


• Introduce a more holistic approach when working with households at risk of homelessness, linking 

housing with employment opportunities and tenancy sustainment services. This will be linked to 

work with Leicestershire County Council and other district councils to increase housing support in 

order to prevent and reduce homelessness 

• Establish what older people want in terms of accommodation and support services, and shape 

our offer appropriately.................................................................................................................. 

• Enable people in need of support/ vulnerable households to access suitable and affordable 

housing and support as they resettle in the community, including through the use of direct 

payments of Local Housing Allowance to landlords.................................................................... 

• Promote and signpost housing customers to existing services through participation in the 

countywide First Contact scheme 

• Provide additional support for domestic abuse victims and perpetrators, raising awareness 

of the Sanctuary Scheme and providing more information and advice to people 

• Develop protocols between housing providers and criminal justice organisations to support 

a reduction in re-offending ......................................................................................................... 


Page 34 


This document was prepared by the Strategic Housing Section at 

North West Leicestershire District Council with the assistance of GLHS Ltd. 

It is available in large print, braille and other formats on request. 

This document is also available in other languages on request.

Housing Strategy 2011-2015 - North West Leicestershire District ...

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