Building homes and communities

Housing figures in the South East Plan are far in excess of current market demand and need to be reviewed regularly, particularly inlight of the economic downturn. The lack of access to affordable, accessible, sheltered and lifetime housing for people in Kent remains an issue. We will:

• Develop a robust Kent Housing Strategy in conjunction with the 12 district councils. This will prioritise investment and feed into the Local Development Frameworks. It will address the need for a range of housing provision including equity sharing, sheltered housing and family homes. The growth in single-parent or one-person households as well as the number of elderly people in Kent requires a more flexible mix of housing.
• Ensure that new homes are built to the very highest standards and revise the
  Kent Design Guide to respond to demographic changes, the government's Growth Areas and the needs of the elderly and disabled.
• Encourage home improvement and energy efficiency measures to reduce living costs.
• Update What Price Growth? to lobby government to properly fund the infrastructure required to accompany centrally prescribed housing targets.
• Seek to return to use all empty homes in Kent, working with the district councils.
• Enhance and improve access to Kent’s green spaces and countryside.
• Promote fuel and water utility, including the development of decentralised energy sources.
• Work with all 12 Kent district councils to provide practical support to businesses and residents in achieving Kent’s carbon reduction targets.

By facing up to this challenge, acting strategically and assessing the need across the county as a whole, we will be in a position to address the disparity across the county, deal with future demographic changes and ensure the provision of the right homes in the right place for the people of Kent. In this way we will maximise economic and social opportunity for all and ensure that we create communities not housing estates for future generations.