Public to have their say on citywide Housing Strategy

A new Housing Strategy to ensure everyone in Sheffield has access to a home, which is safe, affordable and ready for a changing climate is to begin a full public consultation.

The new citywide strategy will see Sheffield City Council work collaboratively with partners over the next 10 years to enable all of our communities to have access to homes and neighbourhoods that meet their needs.

It relates to privately owned, privately rented and social housing, and looks to raise standards across the board.

The first stage of public consultation with residents took place earlier this year (2024) to gain initial views on the Strategy.

Today (Thursday 30^th May), that draft strategy has been seen by Sheffield City Council’s Strategy & Resources Committee. They have approved the second phase of public consultation to take place in July for people to have their say on the updated plans.

To take part, people can head to the Have Your Say website. Residents are being asked to keep their eyes on Council social media channels to see when the consultation will go live during July to take part.

Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council and Chair of the Strategy & Resources Committee, said: 

“Everyone should have a safe, secure and affordable place to call home. Good quality homes are fundamental for enabling everyone to live happy, healthy lives.

"Sheffield is a growing city. The Housing Strategy will ensure we build the new homes we need, tackle climate change, create great neighbourhoods and ensure that we are meeting the aspirations of people in Sheffield."

By 2034, the new Housing Strategy aims to:

• Ensure Sheffield has enough homes to meet the aspirations of our communities and support the city to prosper
• Reduce Housing carbon emissions to net zero by 2030
• Allow residents to enjoy safe, good quality homes that are easy to keep warm or cool
• Enable our communities to live in neighbourhoods that are thriving and safe places to live, which they are happy to call home
• Provide the framework for every resident to have a home and the support they need to live a healthy life

The Strategy is for everyone who calls Sheffield home, and will shape how the Council works with local, regional and national partners to build on existing strengths of housing in the city, and to make improvements where they are needed. It will also continue the Council’s drive to eradicate homelessness in the city.

Councillor Hunt added:

“This Housing Strategy has been developed with partners and in consultation with residents. It is for everybody who lives in Sheffield, from the youngest to the oldest, and for those who want to make Sheffield their home in the future.

“Because of the strong demand for housing, Sheffield City Council is committed to delivering 35,500 new homes over the next 15 years. This will mean that brand new neighbourhoods are created, and we look forward to working with partners and residents to help bring our plans to life.”

Over the last few years, the Council has seen unprecedented demand on Housing across the city. The demand for social housing has never been higher, and there is a shortage of both privately rented homes, as well as affordable homes to buy.

This strategy will look to reverse this trend and work with partners in the private, voluntary and community sectors to ensure the goals remain focussed on what the people of Sheffield need.

It is also critical to implementing the Council Plan in the Housing sector, where the Council have made ‘People, Prosperity and Planet’ the focal point of everything it does with the desire to see neighbourhoods that are clean, green and safe places to live and visit.

Following on from this second consultation phase, the final Strategy is planned to be brought before the Strategy & Resources committee meeting during the autumn for full approval and ratification.

Read the full report to committee here.