Council leaders in Tendring have backed a new housing strategy that will seek to maintain and improve the authority’s well-run housing stock while preventing and reducing homelessness.

Tendring District Council’s draft Housing Strategy 2026–2030 was endorsed by the Cabinet on Friday (19 December) following a six‑week public consultation, which saw 24 responses submitted by residents, partners and stakeholders.

Support for the strategy was strong, with 92 per cent of respondents agreeing with its four proposed priorities. These include:

• Maintaining and improving the council’s existing housing stock

Ensuring landlord responsibilities are met, homes remain safe and compliant, and investment is prioritised based on need.

• Preventing and reducing homelessness

Setting out how the council will increase prevention work, manage rising demand, and reduce the costs of temporary accommodation.

• Delivering, with partners, high quality homes

Supporting the delivery of affordable housing and working collaboratively with developers, partners and wider Essex bodies.

• Supporting people in their homes and communities

Improving housing standard, including private rented homes and owner occupied properties, while helping residents live well and independently.

Councillor Andy Baker, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, said the strategy provides a clear plan for the next five years — and one that supports the most vulnerable in the district.

“We are proud to have retained our own council housing – added to the fact that we are also the largest provider of social housing in our district,” he said.

“That means our first priority is to make sure our own homes are well maintained, safe, and continually improved — and our tenants’ feedback shows we are getting this right.

“More than 81 per cent of tenants tell us they are happy with the overall service provided by their landlord, Tendring District Council.

“That is a clear sign that sustained investment and service improvements are making a real and positive difference to people’s lives.

“At the same time, we know the pressures people are experiencing - rising homelessness, affordability challenges, and older homes needing investment.

“This strategy responds directly to those issues, while recognising the importance of strong partnership working across Essex.

“It supports the ambitions in our corporate plan, Our Vision — from improving quality of life to raising aspirations — and ensures we continue to deliver good services in a financially sustainable way.

“I’m grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation and helped strengthen the final document.”

Following the consultation, several additions have been made to strengthen the strategy, including clearer recognition of the council’s responsibilities under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, a renewed ambition to increase the amount of council‑owned temporary accommodation, improved clarity around future disposals of homes that no longer meet requirements, and continued promotion of energy‑efficiency improvement schemes.

The final Housing Strategy 2026–2030 will now be presented to the Full Council on 27 January 2026, following consideration by the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee in early January.

To view the draft Tendring District Council Housing Strategy 2026–2030 click here. A recording of the meeting can be seen here.

‍Attached image shows Andy Baker, TDC Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, with Jonathan Hills, managing director of Hills Building Group, welcoming the addition of five much-needed council homes as part of a brand-new development in Elmstead Market. Image: TDC ‍