KEY housing priorities will be outlined to the public to kick off a major action plan.
Affordable homes, sheltered accommodation and living standards are just some of the main issues to feature in Castle Morpeth Council's Draft Housing Strategy, which goes out to consultation next month.
The document, which is required by law, has b
een two years in the making and pulls together a range of research to identify local needs.
Council Executive Member for Communities Glen Sanderson said: "About two years ago we decided to review our corporate priorities and make Castle Morpeth a place where quality of life is improving.
"We aimed to ensure that the quantity of affordable housing was increasing and with that in mind we planned, and have now successfully delivered, the first stage of a Strategic Housing function.
"The Draft Housing Strategy is probably the key document that sets the direction for the way forward for this Council."
The work sets out a number of objectives, from bringing empty properties back into use and working with other districts to create more traveller sites to ensuring all homes reach the Government's 'Decent' standard, including those in the private sector.
However, the major theme is increasing the amount of affordable housing.
A Housing Needs Study has shown that 274 low cost units will be required every year until 2021 to meet the Borough's demand, but Government guidelines only allow 130 homes of all types to be built per annum.
The Council will adopt a formal policy on the issue, assess its own land to see if it can be developed to meet housing needs and look into the idea of subsidies.
It will also seek to free up land in rural areas by identifying 'exception' sites on the edge of villages.
Another area of work will be the development of accommodation for older people.
Research has found a need for 395 units of sheltered housing in the next three years and 68 'Extra Care' units, which involve a mix of self-contained accommodation and communal facilities with care support on site.
Coun Sanderson said: "All in all, there are a number of very important and key issues raised in this strategy.
"It is the Council's role to be an enabler and a leader in this. This document lays that out."
The Borough's Executive Board gave approval for the document to go out to public consultation in February, with any changes and the final version set to be agreed by Coun Sanderson in March.
He will work with fellow Board member Joan Tebbutt on reviewing the feedback and drawing up any amendments after she raised concerns about the process.
A further report will be given to the Board to update on progress.
