Decision details

To agree a Local Lettings Plan to cover all lettings of Cheltenham Borough

Council’s (CBC’s) new affordable rented homes at 3-7 Apple Blossom Drive,

Brockhampton Manor, Swindon Village, Cheltenham, GL51 9FQ for a period

of fifteen months from the date of this agreement.

These affordable homes will be managed by Cheltenham Borough Homes

(CBH).

CBC-CBH will commit to reviewing this Local Lettings Plan on an annual basis

from the date of Officer Sign off.

The purpose of the Local Lettings Plan is to support community resilience

and cohesion for CBH’s new homes at 3-7 Apple Blossom Drive,

Brockhampton Manor, Swindon Village, Cheltenham by considering

measures to maintain low levels of anti-social behaviour and crime.

Owing to the established nature of the surrounding community within the

Swindon Village area, and CBC-CBH’s shared desire to create a strong,

resilient community in the long-term, it is considered that implementing a

Local Lettings Plan at 3-7 Apple Blossom Drive is entirely logical.

For the sake of clarity, these affordable homes will be owned by Cheltenham

Borough Council and managed by Cheltenham Borough Homes (CBH).

The properties developed at Brockhampton Lane which will be let at

Affordable Rented levels (capped at Local Housing Allowance) consists of

three two-bedroom houses and two three-bedroom houses.

The Affordable Rented properties will be allocated via the Gloucestershire

Homeseeker Plus Choice Based Lettings Scheme. This scheme allows the

Council to enter into a Lettings Plan in certain situations, such as sites where

new affordable housing is being developed.

The development at Brockhampton Lane also includes 2 two-bedroom houses

for Shared Ownership. These will be marketed by Help to Buy South in

accordance with the latest Capital Funding Guide.

Please note this Local Lettings Plan will be reviewed by key officers from

Cheltenham Borough Council and Cheltenham Borough Homes (CBH) on an

annual basis following Officer Sign-Off to determine whether an extension to

or amendment of the Local Lettings Plan is appropriate.

If, for any reason, the Local Lettings Plan is not functioning as intended, the

Council will have the ability to review the Local Lettings Plan, in consultation

with CBH Officers, prior to the annual review date(s).

An alternative option considered was advertising the new affordable

properties on Gloucestershire Homeseeker Plus without having a Local

Lettings Plan in place.

However, owing to the reasons addressed above, it is felt that implementing

a Local Lettings Plan for an initial 15 month period will assist CBH in creating

a balanced and sustainable community, which, in turn, will support the

successful integration of the new affordable housing tenants within the

immediate vicinity and wider Swindon Village area

Key Officers from CBH and Councillor Mike Collins are supportive of the

principle and detail provided within the Local Lettings Plan for 3-7 Apple

Blossom Drive, Brockhampton Manor, Cheltenham.

The draft Lettings Plan has been agreed with key officers from CBH and in

consultation with Councillor Mike Collins- Cabinet Member for Housing.