The Kent Forum Housing Strategy

The Kent Forum Housing Strategy is the first of its kind in the country. It is the result of a year’s extensive consultation and blends expertise and experience from across the private, public and voluntary sectors. The Strategy is endorsed by the Kent Forum, who are the political Leaders and Chief Executives of the local authorities in Kent.

It provides clarity on the major strategic housing challenges facing Kent and Medway; acknowledges that past ways of working may not be fit for the future and identifies where a Kent and Medway perspective can add value, stimulate innovation and contribute to the delivery of local aims.

The Strategy is unique in that it looks across a whole county area and brings District, Borough, Unitary and County Council ambitions together through a bottom-up approach. This is not about centrally-imposed targets. This is about lower tier and unitary authorities identifying their own local housing needs and requirements, whilst recognising the added value that can be gained by adopting a common approach to meeting these where appropriate.

The Strategy recognises that there is a great diversity of housing across Kent and Medway and that what is appropriate for one neighbourhood may not be right in another. There are significant differences in housing need, quality and condition, which are best dealt with in different ways. It does not propose a ‘one size fits all’ approach but provides a menu of solutions to assist authorities in achieving their local aims.

In developing the Strategy, we commissioned DTZ in 2009 to undertake a Kent and Medway-wide Strategic Housing Market Assessment. The full document and supporting technical papers can be found here Kent Forum Housing Strategy and Technical Information

The Strategy contains a number of case studies featuring best practice examples from across Kent and Medway. More details can be found here Kent Forum Housing Strategy Case Studies

The Kent Forum has tasked Kent Housing Group and Kent Planning Officers Group with delivering the recommendations in the Housing Strategy. Please use the following link to view the progress on implementation Kent Forum Housing Strategy Implementation Plan Progress

The Strategy was launched by Sir Bob Kerslake at princes Park in Dartford on 17th May. Other keynote speakers included Terry Fuller, Executive Director of the Homes and Communities Agency and Paul Carter, Leader of Kent County Council. More information on the launch can be found here The Launch Of The Kent Forum Housing Strategy