The Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Julia Rostron, approved an amendment to the Tees Valley Common Allocations Policy. This amendment clarifies the preference given to applicants with a local connection when allocating housing.

Amendment to the Tees Valley Common Allocations Policy

Councillor Julia Rostron, the Executive Member for Adult Social Care, approved an amendment to the Tees Valley Common Allocations Policy. This change aims to ensure greater transparency and fairness in how housing is allocated across the Tees Valley region. The amendment explicitly states that applicants with an established local connection to the area where a property is located may be given preference on the shortlist for that property.

The Tees Valley Common Allocations Policy, which was last updated in July 2025, is a collaborative effort between Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Councils, along with housing providers Beyond Housing and North Star. Its objectives include providing a consistent approach to housing allocation, improving access to safe homes, helping to prevent homelessness, and offering greater choice to residents. The policy is designed to meet legal responsibilities under the Housing Act 1996 and subsequent amendments.

The need for this amendment arose from regular monitoring by the Tees Valley Homefinder Steering Group. It was identified that while the practice of prioritising those with a local connection was already in place, it was not explicitly detailed in the published policy. This created a lack of clarity for applicants. The amendment rectifies this by making the preference for local connection a clear part of the policy, ensuring that those with ties to the area are explicitly recognised in the allocation process. This aligns with the council's ambition for a successful and ambitious town and contributes to creating safe and resilient communities by ensuring housing meets local needs. The decision has no anticipated financial implications.

The amendment is subject to call-in, meaning it could be reviewed by a Scrutiny Committee if requested. The updated policy will be implemented by 30 September 2026.