City council launches ‘Next Generation Winchester’ to create housing opportunities for younger residents
The council is calling on the district’s ‘next generation’, those aged 18-35, to express what improvements can be made to increase housing opportunities for younger residents in the future.
The launch of ‘Next Generation Winchester’ kicks off with an online survey, available at www.winchestersurvey.com/next-generation until 18 February 2021. It will explore the challenges faced by young people across the district – especially those who live and work in the city.
The survey will help to ensure that the needs of the district’s future generations is being thoroughly considered at all levels in the planning and development processes. The project will offer vital insights around ways to:
- Create a platform for young people and families to share their thoughts on local housing options;
- Develop high quality policy that strengthens support for housing to meet the needs of younger, and low-income households;
- Provide appropriate housing to ensure that the council is building a mix of tenure, freehold and shared ownership opportunities meet the need of Winchester district’s ‘next generation’
Speaking on the announcement of ‘Next Generation Winchester’ Cllr Anne Weir, Chair of the Digital Winchester task and finish group at Winchester City Council said:
“This is an extremely important project for the council to be undertaking. We recognise and continue to improve the way we engage with residents so we can provide wider ranging solutions. The survey we’re launching today is a great opportunity for those who don’t typically engage with civic issues to tell us where we can better focus our efforts to maintain the high quality of living throughout the district.”
The ‘Next Generation Winchester’ project dovetails with work to prepare a new Local Plan for the Winchester district. The new Local Plan will set the parameters for future development in the district and will allocate land for new housing to meet our communities’ needs.
The new Local Plan will also set the direction on issues such as the vitality of the economy, location of retail and employment sites, creation of neighbourhoods which enhance health and wellbeing and measures to promote sustainable transport. All of these issues are set within the context of the council’s carbon neutrality targets, which is a core element of the new Local Plan. A consultation on the Strategic Issues and Priorities for the new Local Plan will be launched on 15 February 2021.
Following the completion of the survey, the council will host a digital event to bring residents up to speed with the findings and outline the learnings and opportunities for the residents.
More information can be found at www.winchester.gov.uk/housing/next-generation-winchester or by emailing nextgeneration@winchester.gov.uk.