With broad ranging housing responsibilities and duties to assess and meet community housing needs, district councils formulate and adopt comprehensive Housing Strategies and planning policies associated with the delivery of affordable housing.

Informed by up to date sources of evidence and research, these documents set out the housing aims of each council and how services are being coordinated to increase provision and make the best use of the existing stock. Updated every four to five years, they reflect changes in market conditions, patterns of activity and new policy contexts. Through defined action plans, Housing Strategies set out key priorities and how the local authority and its partner agencies are working together to making best use of available resources.

Housing Strategies are informed through public consultation and input from local stakeholders as well as statutory and voluntary bodies. They are provided by each council as part of its local housing authority role and, along with strategic housing services, are subject to periodic Audit Commission assessments and inspections.

In addition to overarching Housing Strategy documents, themed areas of work and the needs of certain client groups are addressed through separate strategies. Some are prepared at county level and therefore provide a more appropriate context for older and vulnerable people and the respective agencies involved with housing and social care.

For further information concerning your area of interest please contact your local housing team.

• Housing strategies, plans, policies and documents

  For ease of reference we have divided the documents into local authority areas.

• Affordable Housing Development

  Councils within Dorset are actively involved with the provision of affordable housing and measures to increase the number of homes that are developed each year.

• Affordable Housing Planning Policies

  Each Dorset District Council has adopted Planning Policies associated with the delivery of affordable housing.

• Housing Needs of Black and Minority Ethnic and Migrant Worker Households in Dorset and Poole

  A recent study commissioned by the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Strategic Housing Group has investigated the housing needs of black and minority ethnic (BME) and migrant worker households in Dorset and Poole.

• Homes and Communities Agency

• National Indicator 155

  To monitor performance local government reports to central government using a comprehensive set of 198 National Indicators.

• Registered Providers

  This legal definition has replaced the previously recognised term of Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and in line with its predecessor, it incorporates most Housing Associations.

• Rural Housing Enablers

  In a predominantly rural area, where the effects of high prices and low incomes are at their most extreme, addressing the need for affordable housing is a top priority.

• Schemes currently under construction as at 1 May 2010

• Single Conversation and the Local Investment Plan (2010)

  Introduced following the creation of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the "Single Conversation" describes the process by which the agency plans to interact with communities and local authority stakeholders to deliver its place shaping and community orientated agenda.

• Strategic Leadership and Enabling Services

  Increasing the supply of affordable housing is a very high priority across Dorset, reflecting the level of identified need, the costs of open market housing and lower than average wages levels.