Have your say on the Draft West Northamptonshire Council Housing Allocation Scheme

Overview

We are consulting on a draft West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) Housing Allocation Scheme.

Every local housing authority is required by law to have a housing allocations policy (or scheme) which determines how available social housing is allocated to those on the housing register. Whilst much of a policy is in accordance with legislation, guidance and regulations, the council is able to shape certain areas of the policy to address certain local needs. This includes detail about: 

• Who can and cannot apply
• How we consider and prioritise applicants
• How we allocate homes to applicants
• How we apply applicant choice

Background

There are currently three housing allocation schemes that operate in West Northamptonshire, they cover the Daventry Area, South Northants Area, and Northampton Area.

The existing policies operate in different ways to each other; therefore, a West Northamptonshire Housing Allocation Scheme will look to harmonise these differences, making it fairer, clearer and consistent across the West Northamptonshire area.

Whenever there is a proposed major change to policy, the local housing authority is required to consult on these changes.

The council is required to have its scheme adopted by 1 April 2024.

Who can take part in the consultation?

We would like to hear from individuals, other local authorities, social or affordable housing tenants, waiting list applicants, voluntary and community groups and organisations, registered providers of social and affordable housing, councillors, and any other interested parties.

Related documents

A full draft of the Housing Allocation Scheme can be downloaded, along with a summary of the main details that people need to be aware of:

• Draft West Northamptonshire Council Housing Allocation Scheme - WNC Housing Allocation Scheme- Consultation Draft July 2023
• Supporting information - Summary- (you may wish to have this open when completing the consultation)

Alternatively, copies of the draft scheme are available to view at the following locations (Visit our website for directions):

• The Guildhall, St Giles Street, Northampton, NN1 1DE
• The Abbey Centre, St John's Square, Daventry, NN11 4XG
• The Forum, Moat Lane, Towcester, NN12 6AD

How to have your say

We welcome your views on the proposed Housing Allocations Scheme.

You can submit your comments by:  

• Completing the online survey by following the link below

If you have any questions about the consultation, need assistance to complete the online questionnaire or would like a copy of it in another format (including paper, easy read or large print) you can contact us by email, post or telephone. Our contact details are as follows:

Email: ConsultationAllocationsPolicy@westnorthants.gov.uk

Postal address:

• Housing Strategy and Partnership Team
• West Northamptonshire Council
• The Guildhall 
• St Giles' Square
• Northampton
• NN1 1DE

Telephone: 01327 322175

This consultation closes midnight Tuesday 26 September 2023.

For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice.

What happens next?

All responses will be considered and will help to shape decisions by the council on the proposed Housing Allocation Scheme.

The findings of the consultation will be published and presented to Cabinet in Autumn 2023. After consideration, should the scheme be agreed and adopted, current applicants will be required to re-register before the West Northamptonshire Housing Allocation Scheme comes into operation from 1 April 2024. Information for current applicants on re-registration will be provided at a later date.

What happens next

All responses will be considered and will help to shape decisions by the council on the proposed Housing Allocation Scheme.

The findings of the consultation will be published and presented to Cabinet later in 2023 for them to consider. Should the scheme be agreed and adopted, current applicants will be required to re-register before the West Northamptonshire Housing Allocation Scheme comes into operation from April 2024. Information for current applicants on re-registration will be provided at a later date.