We will work with government, registered housing providers, community land trusts and local housing partners to deliver affordable, suitable and decent housing. We will ask for their support to help us promote our climate and ecological priorities by providing sustainable services such as rainwater harvesting, solar panels and other such approaches.
We will take a different approach to Local Plan preparation by being far more strategic, including a two-year extension for having an approved plan. We will continue to work with Homes England and the New Communities Team to deliver a sustainable new settlement within Dorset.
The council will receive and consider an annual report of performance in Dorset from all registered provider housing associations that manage more than 250 homes so residents can access suitable homes.
The pandemic has put enormous pressure on housing services alongside the pre-existing shortage of suitable land for housing development and problems with the supply chain in the construction industry.
As we see more people moving to Dorset, changing work practices are putting additional pressure on the sales and rental housing market. Working with partners and private owners will be critical in the coming months and years to prevent homelessness and reduce reliance on short term or poor-quality temporary accommodation.
We are committed to supporting providers and private landlords in the increased provision of local rental properties in the same way we remain focussed on the provision of affordable homes for purchase.
We will continue to monitor the impact of local housing being used for tourism such as holiday home rentals. This is in addition to our response to the use of local housing for second homes and the impact this has on the local economy.
Our delivery plan sets out how we will deliver these priorities.
