Decision details

The purpose of this Local Lettings Plan is to support Cottsway’s investment into one hundred and forty (140) new-build affordable homes (of which 98 social rented and affordable rented homes are covered by this Local Lettings Plan) at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham, GL53 0JH, by setting out the appropriate measures required to strike a reasonable balance between meeting the local authority’s housing needs and supporting the establishment of a new, sustainable and cohesive community in this location through sensitive lettings arrangements.

For context, this area has a comparatively low level of existing affordable housing stock, and thus the introduction of a significant volume of affordable homes (including 98 no. rented homes) must be carefully managed to ensure that the existing and new community in this area have the best opportunity to thrive.

This Local Lettings Plan will provide Cottsway with greater control over first lets to minimise the risk of persons with significant support needs being housed on this development covering the initial first let period. Nevertheless, to meet the Council’s housing needs, the Local Lettings Plan commits Cottsway to letting these properties to households in priority housing need (Emergency, Gold or Silver band) as identified on the Council’s housing register.

From a Corporate perspective, creating quality homes and safe and strong communities is a key priority of the Council’s new Corporate Plan (2025-2028). Under this priority, the Council has committed to- “Build positive connections with our communities, make people feel safer and improve our neighbourhoods and public spaces”. The Corporate Plan also acknowledges that the Council and Cottsway (in our capacity as providers of social housing) must meet the requirements outlined within the new consumer standards set out by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), especially, (in the context of this local lettings plan) concerning the Neighbourhood and Community Standard, which requires that we (and Cottsway(- “engage with partners including police, the voluntary sector charities to ensure that tenants can live in safe and well maintained neighbourhoods as well as feeling safe in their homes”.

Both of these corporate and national drivers are consistent with the introduction of a Local Lettings Plan on this large new-build development.
The focus on creating strong, healthy communities is reinforced further within the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023 to 2028, with Priority 5 of the strategy being- “We will invest in our communities to help make them safer, stronger and healthier”. Specifically, a key goal falling under this priority relates to tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour. This local lettings plan aligns with this corporate priority, as it will prevent applicants with a history of anti-social behaviour or significant unmet support needs from securing these properties whilst the Local Lettings Plan remains live.

Accordingly, in view of this background context, officers are seeking to introduce this Local Lettings Plan to support the Council’s wider placemaking objectives in creating sustainable, cohesive and resilient communities across the Borough, whilst also recognising and meeting the Council’s significant rented housing need.

To ensure that this Local Lettings Plan remains in place for no longer than required, officers have agreed with Cottsway that this Local Lettings Plan will automatically expire once all first lets of the 98 no. affected social rented and affordable rented homes have been completed, with Cottsway agreeing to write to the Council to confirm the final lettings completion date within 2 weeks of the final first let being completed.