Housing Strategy Consultation (2026 - 2031)

This consultation has now concluded.





Update on the Housing Strategy

The Housing Strategy, originally designed as a 10-year plan (2026-2036), will now be developed as a 5-year strategy (2026-2031).

 This change reflects our commitment to ensuring that the strategy remains responsive, evidence-led, and aligned with the fast-changing housing landscape, both locally and nationally.

 There are several key reasons for this change:

  • Flexibility in a changing environment: Economic conditions, national housing policy, and local development priorities continue to evolve rapidly. A 5-year timeframe allows the Council to adapt to these changes more effectively.
  • Closer alignment with local plans and funding cycles: A shorter strategy period ensures greater coordination with the Local Plan, corporate priorities, and the Council’s medium-term financial planning.
  • Stronger focus on delivery and accountability: A 5-year plan provides a clearer framework for monitoring progress, setting achievable targets, and reviewing outcomes within the lifetime of the strategy.
  • Ability to respond to community needs: Shorter review periods make it easier to reflect residents’ experiences and feedback, ensuring the strategy remains rooted in the realities of local people’s housing needs.

The Housing Strategy 2026-2031 will continue to set out the Council’s vision and priorities for housing in Barking and Dagenham, promoting good quality, safe, and affordable homes for all.






Why are we consulting?

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is preparing a new Housing Strategy (2026–2036). This strategy will set out how the Council addresses housing needs over the next decade. It will establish clear priorities on housing supply, affordability, quality, safety, sustainability and the needs of vulnerable residents.

To ensure the strategy reflects the experiences of local people, the Council is seeking views from residents across all housing tenures, including:

  • Council tenants
  • Housing association tenants
  • Private renters
  • Homeowners (with or without a mortgage)
  • Leaseholders and shared owners
  • Residents in supported housing
  • Residents in temporary accommodation

Capturing feedback from residents in different housing situations will strengthen the borough’s housing evidence base, ensuring the strategy is informed by real experiences and needs across the community.


Scope of the consultation

The Council recognises that not all housing issues can be addressed at a local level.

For example, national factors such as mortgage interest rates or rising house prices fall outside direct council control.

However, understanding these challenges remains important. Evidence gathered from this consultation will support the Council to build a clearer picture of local housing needs and to respond effectively through planning, services and partnerships.


How your feedback will be used

Resident feedback will be reviewed alongside existing housing data, needs assessments and national policy requirements. The information gathered will:

  • Identify issues across all types of housing.
    Your responses will help us understand the key challenges people face, whether renting, owning or living in temporary housing. This includes problems with quality, safety, affordability or stability.
  • Strengthen the evidence base.
    By gathering your experiences, we can build a clearer picture of housing conditions in the borough. This ensures that decisions are based on real-life evidence, not assumptions.
  • Help the Council decide which issues to prioritise and how resources are used.
    Your feedback will guide us in focusing on what matters most to residents – for example, whether to increase affordable housing or provide more adapted homes.
  • Guide future housing plans and services.
    The information you provide will help us design new housing programmes and improve existing services, so they respond more directly to what residents need.
  • Support partnership working.
    Your views will also inform how we work with housing associations, landlords, health and care services, and the government. This makes sure local and national partners understand the challenges in Barking and Dagenham and can work with us to address them.

By aligning resident input with these strategic priorities, the Council will ensure the Housing Strategy is evidence-led, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all communities.

Commitment to fairness, safety, inclusion and partnership

This consultation supports the Council’s core commitments to:

  • Fairness – ensuring all residents have equitable access to housing services and opportunities.
  • Safety – maintaining and improving housing conditions to protect residents’ health and wellbeing.
  • Inclusion – recognising the diverse needs of the borough and ensuring the voices of all groups, including vulnerable residents, are reflected in the strategy.
  • Partnership – working with residents, voluntary and community organisations, and public service partners to deliver housing outcomes collectively.




Update on the Housing Strategy

The Housing Strategy, originally designed as a 10-year plan (2026-2036), will now be developed as a 5-year strategy (2026-2031).

 This change reflects our commitment to ensuring that the strategy remains responsive, evidence-led, and aligned with the fast-changing housing landscape, both locally and nationally.

 There are several key reasons for this change:

  • Flexibility in a changing environment: Economic conditions, national housing policy, and local development priorities continue to evolve rapidly. A 5-year timeframe allows the Council to adapt to these changes more effectively.
  • Closer alignment with local plans and funding cycles: A shorter strategy period ensures greater coordination with the Local Plan, corporate priorities, and the Council’s medium-term financial planning.
  • Stronger focus on delivery and accountability: A 5-year plan provides a clearer framework for monitoring progress, setting achievable targets, and reviewing outcomes within the lifetime of the strategy.
  • Ability to respond to community needs: Shorter review periods make it easier to reflect residents’ experiences and feedback, ensuring the strategy remains rooted in the realities of local people’s housing needs.

The Housing Strategy 2026-2031 will continue to set out the Council’s vision and priorities for housing in Barking and Dagenham, promoting good quality, safe, and affordable homes for all.






Why are we consulting?

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is preparing a new Housing Strategy (2026–2036). This strategy will set out how the Council addresses housing needs over the next decade. It will establish clear priorities on housing supply, affordability, quality, safety, sustainability and the needs of vulnerable residents.

To ensure the strategy reflects the experiences of local people, the Council is seeking views from residents across all housing tenures, including:

  • Council tenants
  • Housing association tenants
  • Private renters
  • Homeowners (with or without a mortgage)
  • Leaseholders and shared owners
  • Residents in supported housing
  • Residents in temporary accommodation

Capturing feedback from residents in different housing situations will strengthen the borough’s housing evidence base, ensuring the strategy is informed by real experiences and needs across the community.


Scope of the consultation

The Council recognises that not all housing issues can be addressed at a local level.

For example, national factors such as mortgage interest rates or rising house prices fall outside direct council control.

However, understanding these challenges remains important. Evidence gathered from this consultation will support the Council to build a clearer picture of local housing needs and to respond effectively through planning, services and partnerships.


How your feedback will be used

Resident feedback will be reviewed alongside existing housing data, needs assessments and national policy requirements. The information gathered will:

  • Identify issues across all types of housing.
    Your responses will help us understand the key challenges people face, whether renting, owning or living in temporary housing. This includes problems with quality, safety, affordability or stability.
  • Strengthen the evidence base.
    By gathering your experiences, we can build a clearer picture of housing conditions in the borough. This ensures that decisions are based on real-life evidence, not assumptions.
  • Help the Council decide which issues to prioritise and how resources are used.
    Your feedback will guide us in focusing on what matters most to residents – for example, whether to increase affordable housing or provide more adapted homes.
  • Guide future housing plans and services.
    The information you provide will help us design new housing programmes and improve existing services, so they respond more directly to what residents need.
  • Support partnership working.
    Your views will also inform how we work with housing associations, landlords, health and care services, and the government. This makes sure local and national partners understand the challenges in Barking and Dagenham and can work with us to address them.

By aligning resident input with these strategic priorities, the Council will ensure the Housing Strategy is evidence-led, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all communities.

Commitment to fairness, safety, inclusion and partnership

This consultation supports the Council’s core commitments to:

  • Fairness – ensuring all residents have equitable access to housing services and opportunities.
  • Safety – maintaining and improving housing conditions to protect residents’ health and wellbeing.
  • Inclusion – recognising the diverse needs of the borough and ensuring the voices of all groups, including vulnerable residents, are reflected in the strategy.
  • Partnership – working with residents, voluntary and community organisations, and public service partners to deliver housing outcomes collectively.