Decent affordable housing is important to all of us. It is one of the fundamental building blocks in creating a holistic approach to social cohesion and enables sustainable regeneration. Our aim is to give everyone the opportunity of a decent home and so promote well being and self-dependence.

Torbay is experiencing issues of housing suitability and affordability. Currently there is a huge demand for affordable housing with very little chance of delivering the amount required. The problems faced are complex and varied and involve many agencies and individuals, therefore resolving them must involve a partnership approach.

Outcomes from 'The Future of Housing in Torbay' conference in June 2003 laid the foundations for such an approach. Throughout August and September, through many meetings, discussions and consultations, we developed the 'Torbay Housing Partnership' (THP), which is now fully operational and intends to manage the housing issues faced in Torbay.

The starting point is to agree what these issues are, then to see how we can tackle them together. This document identifies the main challenges ahead and sets out how the Partnership proposes to overcome them. It hopes to engage the community by involving and informing you, the stakeholder, with the view that together we can make a difference.