Housing policies and strategies

Housing Policies

Click on the name of each policy to open it:

Affordable Housing Scheme policy - provides the framework the Council uses to assess applications for affordable housing. This should be read together with the Affordable Rent , Discounted Sale , First Homes , or Shared Ownership documents.

Civil Penalties policy - contains information abut civil penalties in the private rented sector and how the Council is planning to use them. This policy should be read in conjunction with the Council's Housing Enforcement policy.

Commuted Sums (Affordable Housing) policy - sets out how the Council will spend commuted sums that have been paid in lieu of affordable housing provision.

Cumbria Housing Statement 2020 statement - produced by the Cumbria Housing Group. This statement aims to give a clear focus to housing priorities in Cumbria and to support investment and other funding opportunities. 

Cumbria LEP Housing Delivery Strategy  (October 2020) - The aim of this strategy is to develop a Cumbria-wide housing delivery strategy/plan, providing the specific activities and interventions that will help deliver the ambition of Cumbria's local authorities in relation to housing delivery within it and particularly the delivery of new homes.

Housing Enforcement policy - provides an overview of the principles and processes used to decide whether to take enforcement action.

Local Lettings policy - sets out restrictions on housing association lettings in Cockermouth and the part of Allerdale inside the Lake District National Park.

Local Occupancy Restrictions Policy (LORP)  - this policy enables the Council to meet local housing needs where affordable housing is limited.

Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Register policy - details the Council's approach to administering the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding register.

Social Housing Allocations in Allerdale statement - sets out how general needs social housing for rent is allocated in Allerdale.

Housing Strategy 2016 - 2021

The council is the strategic housing authority in the borough. Therefore we have devised a housing strategy to meet the future housing needs of our residents. This came after we carried out a large study into what the local housing needs currently are which informed our housing strategy. The full strategy can be found in the documents section below. To take account of changes in national policy that affect the housing sector we refreshed our Housing Strategy in 2019.

Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2022-2027

This strategy is currently under review. A new single strategy is currently being developed for Cumberland Council following a review including input from our partners, stakeholders and customers. This strategy sets out an approach to reducing homelessness prevention and ending rough sleeping. Until the new strategy is established, the existing strategies remain active.

The impact of homelessness is devastating and can have long term consequences for those affected.  This strategy sets out the Council’s vision for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping in the area over the next five years. It sets the scene for implementing strategic change, and for making it everyone's business to end homelessness for good.

You can read the existing strategy here:
Homelessness prevention and rough sleeping strategy

A review of homelessness and rough sleeping data was undertaken to help inform the new objectives in the strategy – you can see a summary of the review findings here:
Homelessness Review 2021 - Summary of findings

Housing Assistance/Regulatory Reform Order 

This policy is currently under review. A new single strategy will now be developed including input from our partners, stakeholders and customers, and will set out how Cumberland Council will use Government funding for disabled facilities grants more flexibly. Until the new policy has been established, the existing policies remain active.

Why devise a strategy?

There has never been a more important time for us to deal with housing issues in Allerdale. We have an ageing population and a strong economy, with high demand for housing, and rising rents and house prices. 

Significant housing growth is required in and around the borough to provide sufficient homes for people to live in and for businesses and local services to continue to thrive.

At the same time, we need to meet the challenges of a shortfall of affordable housing and welfare changes to maintain existing communities, and ensure that they can link with and benefit from the advantages arising from housing growth.

The strategy includes a vision statement setting out the vision for housing in Allerdale and the actions we will take to achieve this. it also includes a summary of the challenges that Allerdale is facing in relation to housing.

There are two themes considered in the strategy, and each theme has its aims and priorities:

• People
• Place