Sheffield

Sheffield City Council targets 2,000 new homes per year



Sheffield City Council has launched a new homes delivery plan to help build 2,000 new homes per year over the next five years.


The council hopes that by building new homes, it will be easier to free up and make the best use of the city’s existing stock. 

It will work with the private and public sector to address the shortfall in affordable homes for rent and the under-occupancy in many areas.

The plan will:

maintain the current level of homes being built and improve the range on offer
see the building of these 2,000 new homes, which will include over 725 new affordable homes per year for the next five years to meet housing need
see the council working with the public and private sector to deliver the much-needed homes
support the council’s intention to prioritise brownfield land to bring back into use land that has not been used for many years
bring existing empty housing back into use.

The plan will also include four new older persons independent living accommodation schemes and provision for people with learning disabilities in areas where it is felt there are currently not enough options.

It will also provide more choice for the homeless and those who need homes to rent.

Jack Scott, cabinet member for transport and development at Sheffield City Council, said: “Our focus will be on delivering truly affordable homes and we expect all new developments to contain a reasonable level of affordable housing, unless there are exceptional circumstances preventing this.

“We are keen to work with private sector partners to share our resources if this helps to create a more balanced development so we can go beyond what is set out in our planning policy for affordable homes in some instances.

Jim Steinke, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety at Sheffield City Council, added: “There will be tighter regulation of the private sector and student accommodation to ensure homes are safe and warm, bringing back into use empty properties. 

“We will offer advice and assistance and use enforcement powers to bring long-term empty homes back into use working closely with building owners and landlords.

“Emphasis will be placed on providing choice: different types of housing and a mix of tenure-type and there will be a rapid increase in the number of new council homes.”



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