PLANS to tackle homelessness and provide 1,000 affordable homes for the next five years across Test Valley have been unveiled by civic chiefs.

On Wednesday, May 13, Test Valley Borough Council's (TVBC) cabinet members will consider their new Housing Strategy 2020-2025, along with a new Preventing Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020 to 2023.

This comes after the authority exceeded its affordable housing delivery target by 37 percent, enabling 273 affordable homes against a target of 200 in 2019/20.

It has also exceeded its affordable housing delivery target by 20 percent over the past six years.

Now TVBC will set out how they can improve access and ensure the quality of existing housing, prevent and relieve homelessness and meet the needs of vulnerable people, including a growing number of older people.

Civic chiefs also plan to work with nearby communities to deliver rural affordable housing.

Housing and environmental health portfolio holder, cllr Phil Bundy, said: “The council’s Housing Strategy represents an important strategic document for the council and we have set out ambitious plans.

"Most people would agree that decent and affordable homes contribute immeasurably to health and wellbeing and the council is committed to doing everything it can to provide the right housing solutions for our communities.

"Our message remains simple in that nobody who presents themselves as homeless will leave our offices without the offer of accommodation.

“We will continue to work hard to deliver the homes our borough needs and to tackle homelessness effectively.”

Hampshire Chronicle: Test Valley Borough Councillor Phil Bundy..

Following the 2019 Corporate Plan, the new housing-related strategies have prioritised four main areas.

As well as setting out how the council will continue to deliver new homes that people can afford, improve access to and the quality of existing housing, the strategy also sets out how the council and its partners will meet the needs of an ageing population and how it will continue to prevent and relieve all forms of homelessness.

Anyone concerned about their housing situation can speak to the Housing Options team on 01264 368000.