Cabinet approves ambitious new Housing Strategy to deliver safer, healthier and more affordable homes

Southampton City Council’s Cabinet has formally approved a new Housing Strategy for 2026–2031, setting out an ambitious long-term vision to ensure homes across the city are safer, healthier and more affordable for residents.

The comprehensive strategy aims to ensure that every resident — whether living in council housing or in the private sector — has access to a safe, affordable, healthy and sustainable home. It also commits the council to delivering consistently high standards of service to its tenants and leaseholders.

Developed following extensive public consultation and engagement with tenants, the strategy is designed to reflect the priorities and concerns of local people.

Three key priorities

The Housing Strategy is built around three core priorities:
• Improving Our Landlord Services – ensuring homes are safe, healthy, of good quality and well maintained.
• Increasing Quality Homes in the City – increasing the supply of good quality, affordable housing.
• Supporting Strong & Resilient Communities – working with partners to prevent homelessness, support independence and keep neighbourhoods safe.

The plan includes increased investment in the Decent Homes and Decent Neighbourhood programmes to maintain clean, safe and welcoming local areas. The council will also use customer insight to shape services, address maintenance concerns and rebuild trust by providing more opportunities for residents to share feedback, including through post-repair surveys.

Measures to prevent homelessness, support independent living and ensure disabled residents have timely access to adapted housing are also central to the strategy.

Councillor Andy Frampton, Cabinet Member for Housing Operations, said:

“Housing is an essential foundation for the health and safety of local people. How a council houses its residents is essential to the wellbeing, growth and prosperity of the city. The Housing Strategy is bold, ambitious and forward looking, providing the safety and dignity that everyone deserves. It is a strong and dependable anchor for shaping the city.

“We understand that a home is more than just bricks and mortar, it is a place where futures are built together and dreams can be realised. We are committed to high quality and affordable housing for all residents to help them thrive.”

Raising standards across the city

While there is a strong focus on council housing, the strategy also addresses the wider housing market as Southampton’s population continues to grow. The council plans to raise standards in private rented accommodation, including through measures introduced under the incoming Renters Reform Act.

The forthcoming new Local Plan will play a key role in achieving housing targets. It will allocate land for development and ensure planning policies better reflect the needs of local communities, while supporting the five key missions of the City Plan to create a safer, healthier, greener, growing and more equal Southampton. A new element of the Local Plan will also help bring long-term empty homes back into use.

Homeowners, private tenants and landlords across the city are expected to benefit from targeted action plans, investment priorities and a joined-up approach that links housing with infrastructure, health, education and economic opportunity.

The full Housing Strategy is available to read on the council’s housing policies page.