Specialist and Supported Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy Refresh

In February 2026, MHCLG published new guidance making it mandatory for all local authorities to produce a supported housing strategy. The guidance sets out what must be included in a strategy, including a robust needs assessment to underpin the strategy and delivery plan to ensure effective implementation. The Supported Housing Strategy guidance issued by MHCLG in February 2026 provides a deadline of March 2027 to produce a strategy which complies with the requirements set out in the guidance. Housing LIN produced our supported housing needs assessment and strategy in 2023 and therefore it represents best value for money for the Council for them to undertake the refresh due to their extensive knowledge of Gateshead. Going out to the market to identify another option would risk not meeting the deadline imposed by MHCLG to deliver a compliant strategy by March 2027.