Lambeth's Housing Strategy 2012 - 2016

In July 2012 Cabinet approved Lambeth's Housing Strategy for 2012-16 – our first to be co-produced in partnership with residents, housing partners and other stakeholders.

We were committed to have a strategy based on a shared set of priorities from our residents and housing partners and, in line with Lambeth's ambition to become the first Cooperative Council, we have taken a new approach to developing the housing strategy: co-production.

A range of co-production activities took place between November 2011 and May 2012 involving individuals and organisations with an interest in any aspect of housing in Lambeth. We would like to thank all those who took the time to attend workshops, post comments online, fill out postcards and surveys, and commented on the draft Housing Strategy.

From the co-production activities a number of areas were identified that present particularly significant challenges for Lambeth and that must be addressed over the next four years if our strategy is to be a success: 

• Promoting growth 
• Mitigating the effects of welfare reform 
• Improving the quality of homes; initially council homes through the Lambeth Housing Standard 
• Increasing the role of private sector housing in meeting need 
• Improving resident engagement across all tenures to achieve more cooperative working

With tackling these challenges at the forefront, this Housing Strategy sets out our shared objectives and a series of priorities and proposals under three key themes:

• Place: The role housing plays in making Lambeth a great place to live, work and visit.
• Property: The importance of good quality homes.
• People: The role housing plays in improving the lives of those who live in it.

At the core of the strategy is an action plan for delivery, which sets a clear strategic direction for the council and its partners in addressing housing and related support needs for the four year period to 2016.