Introduction

The North Yorkshire Strategic Housing Partnership comprising the seven Borough/District housing authorities of North Yorkshire, City of York Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales National Parks, has drafted the first Single Housing Strategy for North Yorkshire. The basis for the strategy has been the North Yorkshire Investment Plan 2008-11 agreed in May 2007.

This draft strategy has been produced following an initial round of consultation with stakeholders and the public in March 2009. It includes a number of housing priorities for York and North Yorkshire that have been previously highlighted by stakeholders and a revised vision that reflects feedback from the last consultation.

The Proposed Vision for the Strategy is: To make York and North Yorkshire an inclusive place where everyone can have access to decent affordable homes and effective support when they need it.

The Strategy’s four key priorities are:

  • Enabling the provision of more affordable homes
  • Reducing homelessness
  • Improving access to housing services
  • Making best use of the existing housing stock

The strategy document, an executive summary and draft action plans to support delivery of the strategy’s ambitions are all available for viewing and downloading by clicking on the document links below.

North Yorkshire Housing Strategy - Executive Summary >
North Yorkshire Sub-Regional Housing Strategy >

Consultation on the Draft Strategy

This final round of consultation seeks views from key stakeholders and the public on the draft strategy’s scope, contents and priorities, and input on how key actions should be prioritised.

We need your help at this exciting and challenging time, and would encourage you to share your views either by attending one of consultation events or by taking a few minutes to complete our questionnaire.

Why your views are so important to us

Only by listening to, and taking into account the views of as many people as possible, can we produce a final strategy that is clear, deliverable and that tackles the most critical housing issues in York and North Yorkshire. Therefore, whether you are a key stakeholder, a private sector landlord, a social housing tenant (or other user of our housing services), or a member of the general public we want to hear from you. We really need your help as once published the strategy will be used to secure and direct future housing investment across York and North Yorkshire. It will also provide a common framework for the partnering local authorities to develop their housing policies and initiatives. Therefore it will affect the lives of residents across York and North Yorkshire and impact on our partner organisations that deliver our housing and related services.

How can you get involved?

This final stage of consultation will be done in three ways: a series of targeted focus groups on specific themes, a questionnaire survey, and locally based events in different local authority areas.

Feedback

Feedback notes from each focus group event will be posted here to allow everyone an insight into the discussions that are taking place.

A summary of all the feedback from the consultation will be available at the end of March 2010 and it is hoped to present the final version of the Strategy to the Local Government York and North Yorkshire Housing Board for final approval by 31 March 2010.

Further information

If you would like any further information, please contact Sue Walters Thompson, North Yorkshire Housing Strategy Manager on 01609 767144 or email her at sue.walters-thompson@hambleton.gov.uk

Documents are available in other formats, font and language on request.

Focus Groups

Focus groups have been arranged that will consider the Strategy’s four key priorities. Targeted at housing professionals, practitioners and representatives from key organisations such as housing providers, private sector landlords, tenant groups, the Gypsy and Traveller Community and those representing vulnerable groups these focus groups will take place as follows:

  • Improving access to housing services
    3rd February 2010, 10:30am - 1:30pm
    Craven District Council Offices, Granville Street, Skipton BD23 1PS
  • Reducing homelessness
    9th February 2010, 10am - 1pm
    Vita Dome, Spa Complex, South Bay, Scarborough YO11 2HD
  • Enabling the provision of more affordable homes
    22nd February 2010, 1pm - 3:30pm
    Civic Centre, Stone Cross, Northallerton DL6 2UU
  • Making best use of the existing housing stock
    2nd March 2010, 10am - 1pm
    Selby Civic Centre, Portholme Road, Selby YO8 4SB

If you would like to participate in any of these focus groups please contact: Sue Walters Thompson, North Yorkshire Housing Strategy Manager. Telephone 01609 767144 or email Sue.Walters-Thompson@hambleton.gov.uk

Complete the questionniare

If you are a key stakeholder, a member of the public or represent a local interest group we would encourage you to complete the questionnaire by no later than Friday 19 March 2010. This questionnaire allows you to make general comments about the strategy and its format, as well as asking you to rank actions for housing in York and North Yorkshire. Please complete your questionnaire via this link: http://www.hambleton.gov.uk/nyhousingsurvey, or download the questionnaire in PDF format and send by post to: Sue Walters-Thompson, North Yorkshire Strategic Housing Manager, FREEPOST RSBR-RBLS-USCX, Hambleton District Council, Civic Centre, Stone Cross, NORTHALLERTON, North Yorkshire, DL6 2UU.

Attend a Local Event

There will also be opportunities for stakeholders and the public to contribute ideas at a local level too. If you would like to find out about local meetings or events in your area please visit your local authority website or contact the relevant person below.

 

  • City of York Council - Paul Landais-Stamp – 01904 554098
  • Craven District Council – Wyn Ashton - 01756 706338
  • Hambleton District Council - Helen Fielding - 01609 767176
  • Harrogate Borough Council – Dawn Saxby – 01423 556851
  • Richmondshire District Council – Mark Robson - 01748 829100
  • Ryedale District Council - Richard Etherington - 01653 600666
  • Scarborough Borough Council - John Burroughs - 01723 383649
  • Selby District Council - Simon Parkinson - 01757 292106
  • North Yorkshire County Council - Avril Hunter- 01609 536898
  • North York Moors National Park - Val Dilcock- 01439 770657
  • Yorkshire Dales National Park - Peter Stockton – 01969 650456