The latest stages in the Council’s major housing investment programme are to be presented to the Council’s Cabinet for approval
Plans for new homes on Council owned sites in Harthill and Canklow are proposed to be brought forward for development in 2022/23 as part of an additional £92 million investment for housing growth over the next five years.
Since January 2018 the Council has delivered more than 300 new homes for Council rent or shared ownership, with a further 176 currently either under construction or in the process of being purchased.
If approved, another 33 homes are planned to be built for Council rent across the council-owned sites in Harthill and Canklow, adding to more than 80 already agreed across small sites in East Herringthorpe, Thrybergh, Wingfield, Eastwood and elsewhere. Hundreds more could be purchased as part of private developments around the borough in coming years.
The plans come as demand for affordable housing across the borough continues to increase in line with the rise in living costs.
Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Amy Brookes said: “Ensuring local residents have access to decent, affordable housing is a key priority for us. That’s why we set out ambitious plans for hundreds of new council homes, more than we have seen built in Rotherham for decades. That work goes on and these proposals mark the next stage of our investment which will help to secure the homes that Rotherham people need in every corner of our borough.
“While the current economic uncertainty poses a challenge to us, the cost of living crisis also reinforces the need to ensure that people have access to secure homes at a rent they can afford, and over the coming months and years these plans will help us to ensure those homes are available.”
Development of individual schemes will be subject to consultation with the public and local ward councillors.
Over the past 12 months the growth programme has seen the development of:
- 44 new homes in Broom completed
- 171 homes in the Town Centre underway with the show homes now open
- 14 new bungalows on sites in Ravenfield and Treeton
Council’s Cabinet will also be presented with the new Housing Strategy for 2022-25. The strategy was first published in December 2012 and sets out the Council’s long term vision for housing in the borough until 2043. It is refreshed every three years to ensure it remains up to date and addresses the current challenges and opportunities
The Council has been delivering against the commitments in its Housing Strategy for 2019-22, with key achievements over the past three years including building more council homes and introducing council shared ownership to help more people get onto the property ladder.
Earlier this year Rotherham tenants, residents, staff and key stakeholders were invited to take part in consultations to help shape the strategy for the next three years. The results of which outlined six key priorities for the next stage of the strategy which include:
- High quality new homes
- Affordable homes to meet local need
- Investment in existing homes
- Bringing empty homes back into use
- Supporting people to live independently
- Strengthening communities
The proposals are subject to cabinet approval on Monday 11 July.