Decision details

Development of the Buckinghamshire Housing Strategy took place in Spring and Summer of 2023. A public and stakeholder consultation on the housing strategy took place between 8 November 2023 and 18 January 2024. This public consultation included an all member briefing and discussion at the 14 December 2023 Growth Infrastructure and Housing Select Committee meeting as well as other targeted engagement.

The responses to the consultation indicated that there is broad agreement of the vision, the three priorities, and the critical success factors. One theme, from the comments to the consultation, raised queries around delivery and action plans. These plans were under development and would align to the final strategy once adopted. Changes to the housing strategy (detailed in Appendix 2 of the report) had been incorporated in the final version for agreement at Cabinet and later at full Council for adoption.

The Buckinghamshire Housing Strategy had been devised for the five-year period 2024 to 2029. The vision for the housing strategy was:

A strong housing offer that provides affordable, accessible, sustainable and suitable choices are all life stages.

The three strategic priorities for the housing strategy were:

• Priority One - Understanding the housing needs of our diverse population.

• Priority Two - Better Homes: good quality, sustainable and matched to need.

• Priority Three - New Homes: affordable, accessible and appropriate.

The final housing strategy was scheduled to be presented to Full Council on 17 April 2024 for proposed adoption.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the response to the recent public consultation and recommend the proposed amendments (in Appendix 2) to the draft Buckinghamshire Housing Strategy 2024-2029 to Full Council.