SOUTHEND will need more than 11,000 new homes over ten years, it has been revealed.

Councillors will next week discuss a new strategy to improve housing supply and to prevent homelessness.

The draft Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeper strategy will look at developing new homes, reducing empty homes, preventing and eradicating homelessness and taking a proactive approach to meeting central government housing targets.

The strategy has five main aims. These include prioritising the supply of affordable housing.

This involves working with housing associations like South Essex Homes and private landlords to try to meet a target of providing 11,140 new homes between 2016 and 2026

Currently, the council provides an average of 329 properties per year, meaning the council must provide around three times this amount to reach the new targets. This can be achieved by building new developments, supporting local housing associations to grow and also by ensuring any empty homes in the borough are bought back into use.

Tony Cox, councillor responsible for adults and housing, said: “Southend faces a number housing, homelessness and rough sleeping issues and we are committed to tackling these head on with our partners and the local community.

“This draft strategy highlights our commitment to providing more affordable housing across the Borough, reduce empty homes and support people to live independently. We will also continue to work hard to prevent homelessness wherever we can, and reduce rough sleeping where it does occur.

“This work will link in with our emerging ambition so that we can ensure Southend is a welcoming, healthy and safe place to live and work.”

Other aspects of the strategy include promoting regeneration and economic growth as well as providing adequate infrastructure such a schools, parks and green spaces.

There will also be a focus on high quality homes in the wake of the Grenfell disaster.

A report to councillors said: “It is vitally important to provide housing that is made to last, and will offer residents a safe-haven, and not have to worry about potential costly repairs.

“The Grenfell tragedy led to a national rethink in how to ensure all social housing is not only designed and built, but also maintained to the highest safety standards, and the council is fully focused on delivering safe accommodation across the borough.”

The council says it will also look at ways of supporting people to live independently in their own homes to avoid homelessness and when people do become homeless to ensure it is only briefly and is not repeated.

The report added: “The council is aiming to prevent homelessness where possible, however there are certain cases where this is not possible. The council is committed to ensuring those who do unfortunately become homeless are receiving as much support as they need, and spend as little time sleeping rough as possible, easing the pressure on local charities.