To receive a presentation from the Housing and Growth Manager.

The Housing Strategy and Growth Manager provided a presentation on the Council’s Housing Strategy. The Council was in the process of developing a new housing strategy to cover the period 2024-29. The consultation began in May 2023, which involved a survey and listening sessions with key stakeholders.

The Board were made aware of the previous housing strategy which ran from 2018-2023 had 7 strategic priorities and had been led by Trafford’s Strategic Housing Partnership. The Housing Strategy and Growth Manager highlighted some key achievements of the strategy. This included 977 new build units completed in 2021/22, which was an increase of 323% on the previous year. The strategy also saw 255 new build affordable housing units built and the launch of the Trafford affordable housing fund, which had given housing providers the opportunity to bid for money and provide social housing within the borough. The Housing Strategy and Growth Manager proceeded to highlight some of the successful projects which had made use of this opportunity, as well as informing the Board of the several strategies launched as a result of previous housing strategy. These strategies included a new older person’s housing strategy, a supported housing strategy, and a new homelessness strategy. 

The Housing Strategy and Growth Manager presented to the Board the initial development timeline for the new housing strategy, which began with an initial consultation in the middle of May, with the intention for the strategy to be launched by June/July 2024 following Executive approval.

The Housing Strategy and Growth Manager proceeded to share some of the insights from the 176 responses which were received through the resident survey. The issue of greatest concern to respondents when it came to housing was affordability, with 72% of respondents referencing this, the next most referenced issue was a lack of social housing which was seen in 31% of responses, with availability/supply and poor infrastructure/lack of amenities coming in at 14% and 13% respectively.

The Housing Strategy and Growth Manager shared the suggested priorities that the strategy should be focusing upon from the survey. To build more affordable housing was the most frequent theme with 51% of respondents suggesting this, with the building of more social housing (24%) and increased availability of housing (20%) coming in next. Data on both the demographic and the housing circumstances of respondents were also shared with the Board.

The Housing Strategy and Growth Manager concluded by highlighting the draft strategic priorities of which four had been suggested, which were:

1.    Increase the supply of housing in Trafford and build more ‘truly’ affordable homes.

2.    Ensure Trafford residents can access and sustain their homes.

3.    Ensure homes met current and future needs in Trafford.

4.    Creating neighbourhoods of choice that address inequalities and places people want to live.

The presentation of the strategy concluded with the Housing Strategy and Growth Manager asking the Board to answer six questions using a polling platform called SLIDO. The Board accessed this on their mobile phones, with the intention for their responses to be used in support of the formulation of the strategy. Following this, the Housing Strategy and Growth Manager asked if there were any further questions from the Board.

The representative from Greater Manchester Mental Health asked if a conversation around incorporating people with mental health issues into the strategy could be held. The Housing Strategy & Growth Manager agreed to meet outside of the meeting to discuss how the needs of people with mental health issues could be integrated into the plan.

The Chair thanked the Housing and Growth Strategy Manager for the presentation, and thanked her, and the Housing team more widely for the work that had been done so far.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the strategy be noted.

2)    That the Housing Strategy and Growth Manager and the representative from Greater Manchester Mental Health meet outside of the meeting for further discussions.