Council up for award on housing

WEST Lancashire Borough Council has been shortlisted for a national award for its strategic role to provide leadership and facilitate housing development to meet housing needs.

The authority is one of seven shortlisted by the Chartered Institute of Housing for the title of Council of the Year in the 2019 UK Housing Awards.

The council’s submission for the awards highlighted how the authority is responding to local housing issues, including working with partner organisations to facilitate development including new affordable housing.

Some of their recent achievements have resulted in: ● Increased housing supply by unlocking of land sites such as Whalleys and Abbeystead in Skelmersdale ● The direct delivery of housing both market and social housing, including 63 Beechtrees in Skelmersdale and the Walmsley Drive development close to the council offices in the heart of Ormskirk ● Facilitating new affordable housing for local people ● Successful partnership working with neighbouring local authorities which resulted in securing funding for refuge providers in supporting domestic abuse survivors and their families to obtain a safe space to then rebuild their lives ● Supporting residents to live independently in their own homes through the support of the Homecare Link Service

West Lancashire Borough Council is ambitious for the Economy, Environment, Health and Wellbeing and working to meet local housing need is vitally important in meeting these priorities.

Cllr Jenny Forshaw, portfolio holder for Housing and Landlord Services, said: “The council is absolutely delighted to have been nominated for this award.

“Even to have made the shortlist is a fantastic achievement and recognises the hard work and dedication of our staff.

“We will face stiff competition from the other councils but I am sure we will put a good case to the judges to show why we deserve to be considered.”