Housing strategic priorities

Homes for Bolton is the name used by a number of Housing Service providers in Bolton, these Housing Service providers are members of a partnership called Bolton Community Homes. This partnership was established in 1992 and is an independent strategic housing, regeneration and service provider company limited by guarantee.

Bolton Community Homes is one of a number of partnerships which make up the Local Strategic Partnership for Bolton (known as the Bolton Vision Partnership).

Registered at Companies House and with a Board of Directors, Bolton Community Homes represents a wide ranging cross sector partnership of the local authority, housing and regeneration service providers, service users and developers in the Bolton area.

Collectively, individual Company Members of Bolton Community Homes:

Manage and maintain over 25,000 homes.
Provide support to numerous service users in supported and temporary housing
Directly employ over 1300 people in the Bolton area.
Lead on the delivery of a wide range of regeneration initiatives.
Contribute to the identification of regional objectives.

Bolton Community Homes links with the Councils Regeneration and Development and Adult Services Directorates bringing together economic, physical regeneration and community services.

In addition to representation on Bolton Community Homes' Board, the council has a management and operational relationship with Bolton Community Homes Officers through the Chief Housing Officer.

BCH is a major influencer and delivery vehicle for the Housing Strategy.

The key objectives and priorities identified in Bolton's Housing Strategy will form the basis of the BCH Delivery plan. Its activities and actions will also be influenced from the Sustainable Community Strategy and the LAA.

Priority A: To provide housing that is affordable and offers choice whilst meeting the needs and demands of the future.

The provision of decent and affordable homes is a clear priority within Bolton's Sustainable Community Strategy. The cost of housing in Bolton has risen dramatically over recent years, which has led to many people being unable to access the type of housing that they can afford and want. This combined with a growing number of households in Bolton, has resulted in a shortage of affordable accommodation to rent or buy.

Priority B: To create and promote communities that are sustainable and inclusive.

Ensuring that our communities and neighbourhoods are desirable places that people want to live in and become part of, is a priority that cuts across a number of the goals in the Sustainable Community Strategy. The challenges that Bolton faces include deprivation, fear of crime, increasing levels of migration into Bolton and environmental issues. Residents should have an active role in influencing how we tackle these problems and support communities to live together in a cohesive manner.

Priority C: To improve the quality of private sector housing.

Bolton has an aging stock of private sector housing, both owner occupied and rented, which in some cases is in poor condition. A significant proportion of these properties are occupied by older people and those on low incomes, which means they may not have the resources to carry out the improvements needed to improve the property. This can lead to health problems and reduce the quality of life of the residents.

Priority D: To promote health, well-being and quality of life.

Improving the health of residents in Bolton, is a key goal set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy. The provision of housing and support to vulnerable people has a significant impact on health and enabling people to sustain quality of life. There is a need for adaptable, sustainable homes, and for preventative action to stop health and independence from deteriorating.

Priority E: To strengthen our partnership approach to improve housing, services and communities.

Housing in Bolton is based on a long tradition of partnership working and the provision of services that best meet the needs of our customers. In the future, there will be changes in the way we deliver services, work with each other and in customer expectations. To ensure that we continue to provide excellent housing services in Bolton and be influential at a regional and national level, we will need to build on our existing partnerships and relationships and continuously improve services.