Have your say on housing in West Yorkshire

15 November 2023

People are being invited to have their say as part of a public consultation on a new housing strategy for West Yorkshire.

Figures show that nearly 90,000 households across the region are on council waiting lists for housing, a further 63,000 homes are also at risk of flooding, and only 23% of homes are well-insulated, meaning residents spend more than they should on energy bills.

The strategy will aim to address this by creating a framework to boost the delivery of high-quality, affordable housing and improve the quality of existing homes.

It will also set out principles that guide how the West Yorkshire Combined Authority invests in and supports private and public sector partners to deliver high-quality homes.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“Thousands of people across our region are stuck on waiting lists, or forced to live in unsuitable homes.

“Having a safe and secure place to call home should be a fundamental right of everyone, which is why we need everyone to have their say.

“Together with our partners, we will create greener, more vibrant communities where people feel safe and are proud to call West Yorkshire home.”

As part of her plans to turbocharge regeneration and bring more homes to the region, Mayor Brabin has recently invested £3.2 million to help fast-track housing projects by supporting district councils with staffing and preparatory site work.

The strategy, which will be informed by people’s responses to the consultation, will build on the region’s recent ground-breaking partnership with Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency.

The West Yorkshire Strategic Place Partnership, only the third of its kind in England, could see up to 40,000 homes build over the next few decades.

And projects are underway across the region to improve the quality of homes through better insulation and cheaper, greener sources of energy, such as solar panels and heat pumps.

The survey is accessible online, allowing all West Yorkshire residents to have their say on how to address housing challenges in the region.

Visit www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/housing-strategy to take part in the consultation.