All councils are required to understand their local housing market. Our aim is to balance the local housing market by encouraging the delivery of an appropriate mix of property and tenure types on all new housing developments. To deliver this our objective is to:
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Research the housing needs of the district.
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Provide a seamless service to developers, housing associations and other partners by ensuring a co-ordinated response from other council departments relating to affordable housing issues
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Promote and encourage the provision of affordable housing
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Balance the local housing market by encouraging a good mix of dwelling and tenure types through new housing provision
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Seek out best practice on affordable housing issues
Gateshead continues to have a reasonable demand for social rented properties and low-cost home ownership. Given the Council’s own stock is reducing, due to sales through the Right To Buy| and redevelopment, it has been increasingly important to have effective partnership with HomeBuy| to meet these housing needs.
The Homes and Communities Agencies Affordable Housing Program
We mainly rely upon housing associations to meet our identified housing needs, and grant funding provided to them by the Homes and Communities Agency. The Council, therefore:
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Works closely with the Homes and Communities Agency to agree priorities, evaluate and prioritise scheme funding bids.
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Meet regularly with partners to encourage open communication and effective partnership working. The council, housing associations, developers and accredited private landlords have developed The Gateshead Housing Agreement as a basis for consultation, engagement and to exchange ideas.
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Continue to monitor the progress of individual housing associations housing schemes
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Make council owned sites available and consider discounted disposals where appropriate.