Housing impacts on many areas of everyday life.
To ensure we provide the right housing services to meet local needs and priorities, we produce strategies and action plans. We also consult with members of the local community and our partners to make sure we take their views into account.
Housing Strategy 2021-2026
This Housing Strategy identifies four key themes and their associated objectives:
- Understanding housing needs.
- Delivering the homes.
- Making best use of existing housing.
- Meeting the housing needs of vulnerable people.
The Housing Strategy 2021-2026 was adopted on 3 February 2021.
Care and support accommodation strategy
The Housing Strategy 2012-17 committed the Council to preparing an accommodation strategy for vulnerable groups. The overall Care and Support Accommodation Strategy is comprised of four separate strategies, which are:
Learning disabilities accommodation strategy 2017-2022
- Learning disabilities accommodation strategy (PDF).
- Learning disabilities accommodation action plan (PDF) (reviewed in September 2021)
Physical disabilities accommodation strategy
Strategy currently in development.
Mental health accommodation strategy 2018-2023
- Mental health accommodation strategy 2018-2023 (PDF)
- Mental health accommodation strategy 2018-2023 action plan review (PDF)
Older persons’ accommodation strategy 2018-2023
Homelessness strategy 2016-2021
- Homelessness strategy 2016-2021 (PDF)
- Homelessness strategy action plan (PDF) reviewed November 2018
- Homelessness strategy action plan (PDF) revised version as approved at 6 November 2019 Housing Committee
Empty homes strategy 2019-2024
Tenancy strategy 2019-2024
- Tenancy strategy 2019-2024 (PDF)
- Fixed term tenancy review report 2019 (PDF) reviewed October 2019
- Fixed term tenancy review report 2022 (PDF) reviewed October 2022
Bedford strategic housing market assessment
We commissioned Opinion Research Services (ORS) to update the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) and establish the Objectively Assessed Need (OAN) for housing based on the most up to date information now available.
Private sector housing
We commissioned the Building Research Establishment to complete a private sector stock modelling exercise. A Private Sector Stock Report was completed in 2018 and an addendum report in 2020.