Interim Housing Strategy 2025 to 26

The Council has created an Interim Housing Strategy 2025 to 26 that provides a short-term plan to address urgent housing challenges while laying the groundwork for a comprehensive long-term approach. This Interim Housing Strategy focuses on immediate actions to meet residents’ housing needs, improve housing quality and safety, and uphold key commitments such as fairness and accountability. It serves as the foundation for the new Housing Strategy 2026 - 2031. 

Interim Housing Strategy (PDF, 560.39 KB)

Update on the Housing Strategy

The Housing Strategy, originally designed as a 10-year plan (2026-2036), will now be developed as a 5-year strategy (2026-2031).

This change reflects our commitment to ensuring that the strategy remains responsive, evidence-led, and aligned with the fast-changing housing landscape, both locally and nationally.

There are several key reasons for this change:

• Flexibility in a changing environment: Economic conditions, national housing policy, and local development priorities continue to evolve rapidly. A 5-year timeframe allows the Council to adapt to these changes more effectively.
• Closer alignment with local plans and funding cycles: A shorter strategy period ensures greater coordination with the Local Plan, corporate priorities, and the Council’s medium-term financial planning.
• Stronger focus on delivery and accountability: A 5-year plan provides a clearer framework for monitoring progress, setting achievable targets, and reviewing outcomes within the lifetime of the strategy.
• Ability to respond to community needs: Shorter review periods make it easier to reflect residents’ experiences and feedback, ensuring the strategy remains rooted in the realities of local people’s housing needs.

The Housing Strategy 2026-2031 will continue to set out the Council’s vision and priorities for housing in Barking and Dagenham, promoting good quality, safe, and affordable homes for all.

Public Consultation - Housing Strategy 2026 to 31

Public consultation on the new Housing Strategy 2026–2031 has now concluded. Over recent weeks, the Council engaged widely with the community and stakeholders to gather views on the future of housing in the borough. A range of people took part in the consultation, including local residents (of all ages), young people, disabled people, parents and carers, council officers, and partner organisations, through online surveys, community workshops and targeted forums. This extensive engagement ensures that the strategy development is informed by those who live and work in our borough.

The feedback from the consultation was robust, with a clear consensus that a new Housing Strategy 2026 - 31 is needed to guide the borough’s housing services over the next five years. Participants highlighted several major issues and priorities that the strategy must address, including:

• affordability - calls for more genuinely affordable homes and concern over high rents, house prices and living costs that put housing out of reach for many residents
• condition and maintenance of homes - reports of persistent repair backlogs and issues like damp and mould. Residents stress the importance of well-maintained, good-quality homes (including new builds) and timely repairs to ensure comfort and safety
• safety in housing and neighbourhoods - emphasis on feeling safe at home and in the community. Concerns are raised about crime and antisocial behaviour in some areas, and the need for secure, well-designed housing (for example, appropriate placements for disabled residents and improved lighting and security measures)
• support for vulnerable groups - a need for better housing options and support for those who are vulnerable, such as disabled residents, families with special educational needs, people at risk of homelessness, and older people, so that housing and related services properly meet their needs
• communication and engagement - residents urge the Council to improve how it communicates and interacts with people about housing. This includes providing clearer information on housing services and processes, responding more quickly to enquiries and repairs, and involving residents (including young people and those with disabilities) more in shaping housing decisions

The Council is now reviewing all the feedback received and using it to inform the new Housing Strategy 2026 to 31. Work is underway to develop the strategy document, which will outline how the Council plans to address the priorities identified by residents and stakeholders. The new five-year Housing Strategy is expected to be published in the New Year, setting out a clear plan to deliver safer, more affordable and better-quality homes across the borough and to improve housing services for all.