Have your say on how new council should allocate social housing

People are being invited to give their views on proposals for how social housing will be allocated across North Northamptonshire from spring next year.

On 1 April 2021 the new North Northamptonshire Council will replace the existing district and borough councils in Corby, East Northants, Kettering and Wellingborough, which each currently have their own rules for deciding how council and housing association properties are allocated in their areas.

Work has therefore been taking place to combine these into a new draft Housing Allocation Scheme that will cover all of North Northamptonshire from day one of the new Council.

Residents, tenants and housing associations are among those being encouraged to give their feedback on these proposals as part of a six-week consultation starting today (4 November) and running until 15 December.

Their views will help to shape a final version of the scheme to then be considered by North Northamptonshire’s Shadow Councillors early next year.

To view the draft proposals and complete a questionnaire, visit https://futurenorthants.citizenspace.com/.

The draft scheme sets out proposals for who would be eligible and could apply for social housing in North Northamptonshire, along with how the new council would process applications, assess and manage people’s housing needs and determine who should have priority for social housing.

The draft Allocation Scheme would also keep a Choice Based Lettings approach to allocating social housing, which is already used by the existing north councils and allows applicants to choose and bid for properties they prefer.

Councillor Russell Roberts, Leader of the North Northamptonshire Shadow Authority and Housing Portfolio Holder said: “Supporting the welfare and needs of residents across North Northamptonshire will be at the heart of our new Council and the way we allocate housing will play a key role in helping us do this.

“It’s really important that people give their views on these proposals so that we can shape the best scheme possible for our communities. I would encourage everyone with an interest in these issues to get involved and give their feedback.”

The draft Housing Allocation Scheme can be viewed online, along with an accompanying questionnaire to complete at https://futurenorthants.citizenspace.com/.

Alternatively comments can be emailed to futurenorthants@northamptonshire.gov.uk or in writing to the following address: Allocations Consultation, Future Northants, c/o Kettering Borough Council, Bowling Green Road, Kettering, NN15 7QX.

For more information or to request paper copies of the questionnaire call 01536 410333.

The deadline for responses is on Tuesday, 15 December, 2020.