A report and action plan are being drawn up to tackle the housing crisis across North Essex.
It follows the first North Essex Councils’ Housing Summit on February 15 which brought together a mix of 120 leaders and professionals to discuss how to address the shortage.
As well as council officials and members it included representative from the North East Essex Health and Wellbeing Alliance as well as figures from within the industry.
A full report summing up the key findings, recommendations and proposed strategies will be published in March before work starts on an action plan to provide the necessary housing including temporary accommodation and affordable homes.
Cllr Chris Whitbread, chair of North Essex Councils, said: “The event was about fostering a collaborative spirit, bringing leaders and industry experts together, from across the housing sector, to address the serious and multifaceted natures of the housing crisis.
“We heard from a range of fantastic keynote speakers in the morning but most importantly, spent the afternoon in workshops finding tangible solutions to our housing challenges in north Essex.”
Ed Garratt, chief executive of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, said: “It is well recognised that housing conditions have an impact on our physical and mental wellbeing, and that improved housing can increase life expectancy, reduce levels of illness and lessen the impact on health care services.
“This event was an important step forward and I hope will act as a catalyst for greater future collaboration to deliver meaningful improvement in housing across north east Essex.
“We have ambition to be an exemplar nationally in our work on housing and health.”
Image (l-r): Front: Cllr Graham Butland, leader of Braintree District Council; Jen Gould, strategic director, Epping Forest District Council; Pam Donnelly, chief executive of Colchester City Council; Paul Dodson, director of strategy and resources for Maldon District Council; Ian Davidson, chief executive of Tendring District Council; Laura Taylor-Green, North East Essex Alliance director; Nick Eveleigh, chief executive of Chelmsford City Council and Cllr Mark Stephenson, leader of Tendring District Council. Back: Cllr Stephen Robinson, leader of Chelmsford City Council; Dan Gascoyne, chief executive of Braintree District Council and Cllr David King, leader of Colchester City Council.
© Eastern Echo (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).
Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.
