Overcrowding Reduction Strategy
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets
approved its first Overcrowding Reduction
Strategy 2009/12 (pdf, 2mb) in October 2009. The
Council made a firm commitment to develop and deliver an
Overcrowding Reduction Strategy in its Housing Strategy
in early 2009. This strategy honours the commitment made and renews
the Councils dedication and focus to tackling and preventing
Overcrowding in Tower Hamlets in partnership with its Common
Housing Register partners. The Common Housing Register forum is a
partnership between the Council and 18 Housing Associations that
operate within Tower Hamlets.
Overcrowding has always been a focus
in housing within the borough. Overcrowding impacts on residents’
health, education, employment opportunity and well being. If we can
get the housing supply and housing services right, then we can make
a positive impact towards securing a better and brighter future for
our residents in all aspects of their lives. The strategy brings together, in a structured
and co-ordinated manner, the way in which the Council will tackle
overcrowding.
The strategy aims to tackle
overcrowding by:
- Reduce overcrowding in
existing housing stock, and put in place preventative measures to
reduce future overcrowding.
- Increase the overall supply of
housing for local people including a range of affordable, family
housing.
- Prevent overcrowding and
homelessness by providing access to the right housing options at
the right time
Tower Hamlets has
invested in pilots to determine how the Council with partners might best
support not just overcrowded families but also under-occupiers in
order to make best use of stock. Overall the strategy aims to improve
the quality of life of all residents living in Tower Hamlets. The
initiatives’ underpinned by three objectives fall into strands
taken from the Community Plan, Housing Strategy, Homelessness and
Child Poverty Strategy. The
strategy is also underpinned by a SMART action plan and monitored
through the Common Housing Register Forum and the Housing Strategy
Delivery Board.
The strategy was developed through
extensive consultation with residents, tenants,
stakeholders, Members, community & voluntary organisations
and staff. The Council would like to thank everyone that
contributed to the development of the strategy.
You
can download a copy of the strategy by clicking on this
link: Overcrowding Reduction
Strategy 2009/12 (pdf, 2mb)
How to contact us
Strategic Housing
Mulberry Place (AH)
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 1BY
Tel: 020 7364 6250
Fax: 020 7364 2533
Email: strategic.housing@towerhamlets.gov.uk