Chesterfield Council pledges £23m to transform council housing

Chesterfield Council wants to ensure all its council housing meets the decent homes standard, as well as to provide “good-quality, affordable homes for people in Chesterfield”.

And councillors have now backed the authority’s Housing Capital Programme, which sets out investment priorities for 2021-25.

Coun Chris Ludlow, cabinet member for housing, said: “Our aim as always is to enhance Chesterfield’s housing offer, so people of all ages can find and live in a quality home they can afford.

“Our capital programme shows we are committed to improving our housing stock to ensure it meets the needs of the people of Chesterfield, as well actively contributing to the climate change agenda, by ensuring all homes are energy efficient.”

Modernisation and refurbishment of the council’s existing housing stock continues to be a main focus, including roof repairs, windows installation and estate improvements, to ensure all properties continue to meet the decent homes standard.

The council has also added 64 homes to its housing stock since 2019, with plans for another 53 by 2023, which it says will “give local families more choice and access to modern properties”.

It has also pledged to invest in homes for older people, with work progressing at Mallard Court and Leander Court, retirement housing in Staveley, and to ensure all homes are energy efficient, “allowing Chesterfield to become a low carbon, resilient and sustainable borough”.

Vital to enhance borough housing needs

Coun Ludlow said: “Investing in affordable and social housing has never been as important, given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has had on many people financially, so it is vital we continue to enhance the borough’s housing needs and supply affordable living.

“We are committed to building a sustainable future and in response to the climate change emergency declared by the council in 2019, we’re taking measures to ensure our homes are energy efficient – which will not only help the planet, but will also give our residents access to affordable warmth.”

“During 2020-21 we achieved some key milestones in improving our housing stock and we’re proud that 100 per cent of our properties meet the decent homes standards. By continuing to refurbish and modernise our homes and estates, we can continue to ensure we maintain these standards for local families.”

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