Housing Options Appraisal

In 2002, Warrington Borough Council reviewed how it managed and funded its housing stock. As a result of this, in 2004 an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) known as Golden Gates Housing (GGH) was set up.

Golden Gates Housing has had five successful years, during which much has been achieved and it has been given a 3*star excellent rating by the government. However, the extra funding given to the council ends in March 2008 and the management agreement with Golden Gates Housing will end in February 2009.

The council now has to start thinking about the future management and funding of our housing stock. We have decided to do this by undertaking a Housing Options Appraisal.

The objective of the Housing Options Appraisal is to consider the future of the council’s housing stock, which consists of about 8800 houses and flats plus 220 leasehold properties. In order to do this we have set up a Housing Options Panel which will identify the best way to:

meet and maintain the properties at, as a minimum, the Decent Homes Standard for at least the next 30 years
identify tenants’ aspirations for the quality of their homes, neighbourhoods and standards of service
maintain and, if possible, improve the quality of housing management and maintenance services to tenants
have regard to the concerns of tenants and staff
make direct investment so as to maximise the potential for regeneration in the areas concerned and in ways that will benefit the communities and local economy

For further information or advice please see the links below or telephone the Housing Options Appraisal team on freephone 0800 952 9942.

On Monday 15 December, the full Council unanimously approved the recommendations put forward by the Housing Options Panel, to transfer the current housing stock to a Registered Provider Social Housing or Housing Association, subject to a tenants’ ballot, and that Golden Gates Housing (GGH) should become that Housing Association. Following on from this decision the council is now carrying out further consultation with tenants before conducting a ballot later in the year. You can view further information on the stock transfer project here.

You can now read the press release outlining the recommendations made by the Housing Options Panel and the reasons behind them

More information:

Tenants' survey results
Click here to see the results of the tenants' survey.

Tenants' conferences
Click here for feedback and results from the tenants' conferences

Last updated 26/01/2010 10:00:37

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