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Walsall Borough Housing Strategy 2026 Stakeholder engagement – shaping future delivery

The socio-economic analysis and the strategic housing market assessment presented in this strategy have established a robust, data-driven foundation for developing our Building Walsall 2040: Housing Strategy and Delivery Plan (2025–2040). Building on this evidence base, an extensive and structured stakeholder engagement process has been undertaken. This engagement was essential to ensuring that the strategy is not only grounded in robust analysis but also shaped by the insights and experiences of our local communities and partners — resulting in a strategy that genuinely reflects Walsall’s current and future housing needs. 

Collaborative and inclusive approach 

Recognising the complexity and diversity of Walsall’s housing challenges, a collaborative methodology was adopted from the outset. The first step was to develop a Stakeholder engagement plan and systematically identify and map a wide range of stakeholders and participants. These included internal partners (key Council teams such as planning, social care, and regeneration), as well as external stakeholders including housing associations, private developers, community groups, advocacy organisations, and most importantly, local residents. 

Structured engagement process

The engagement was carried out in three distinct phases:

  • Pre-Consultation: This involved the initial identification of stakeholders and the development of engagement materials tailored to different audiences. Early insights were gathered to inform the consultation design, ensuring relevance and inclusivity.
  • Consultation: Multiple engagement formats were used, including thematic focus groups, one-to-one interviews, and interactive workshops. These internal and external sessions were structured around key themes enabling deep dives into specific issues and opportunities. This thematic approach allowed stakeholders to contribute their expertise and local knowledge in a targeted, meaningful way. The engagement sessions were followed up by a Building Walsall 2040: Homes, Communities, Partnerships event held on Tuesday, 7 October 2025, attended by 60 key stakeholders representing the council, developers, registered providers and voluntary community sector. Participants were invited to share views, priorities and practical recommendations to inform the development of this ambitious, evidence-based Housing Strategy for Walsall. Additional responses relating to ‘housing’ from the Borough-wide resident survey in 2025 were also considered.
  • Validation: Following the consultation, a validation phase has been undertaken to ensure the accuracy, credibility, and representativeness of the engagement findings. Draft outputs were circulated to key stakeholder groups for review, allowing participants to confirm that their feedback had been accurately captured and that emerging themes reflected the range of perspectives shared. Additional feedback was invited through engagement and follow-up discussions with council officers, to enable clarification of any ambiguities and to address outstanding issues. This iterative process has helped refine the final evidence base, strengthening confidence in its robustness and ensuring it provides a sound foundation for the Housing Strategy. 

Inclusivity, local insight, and transparency

 The process was designed with inclusivity at its core, ensuring that all voices were heard and no group was overlooked. A dedicated resident consultation survey was issued, and this received 81 full responses and 122 partial responses (survey part complete/not answered in full). It is important to note, the patterns of responses and overall sentiment in these partial completions closely reflected those of the full responses, reinforcing the validity and representativeness of the findings. As a result, this report primarily references the full responses, with the partial responses supporting and following similar trends. This combined engagement, alongside focus groups and workshops, provided valuable insights into affordability, housing quality, neighbourhood wellbeing, and wider community priorities. 

Key findings from the public consultation survey include:

  • Broad support for the overall strategic direction—79% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the Regeneration and Housing objective, and 85% supported improved Private Rented Sector Standards.
  • Strong advocacy for a “brownfield first” approach, with clear opposition to green belt development. Many residents expressed concerns about the loss of green space and emphasised the need for sustainable, well located homes. 
  • A focus on affordability, quality, and energy efficiency, with calls for genuinely affordable homes, improved maintenance standards, robust enforcement in the private rented sector, and better support for those facing homelessness or needing specialist housing.
  • Calls for deeper inclusion of underserved groups, particularly Gypsy, Traveller, and minority ethnic communities, who highlighted the need for more sites and accessible consultation.
  • Concerns about local infrastructure, including schools, GPs, and transport, alongside a strong emphasis on community safety, wellbeing, and the integration of health and support services into housing policy.
  •  A clear expectation for ongoing, transparent engagement and regular public reporting on progress. 

Alongside the resident survey, we engaged directly with young people aged 11-19 at the Youth Engagement Hub in the Saddlers Shopping Centre. Around 25 young people participated in interactive exercises and discussions, sharing their priorities for the future of housing and neighbourhoods in Walsall. Their feedback highlighted the need for: 

  • Quality, well-insulated homes with gardens and sufficient space;
  • Affordable housing and better access to public transport, including more frequent buses;
  • Safer environments and reduced anti-social behaviour;
  • Strong digital connectivity
  • Clean, well-maintained streets and green spaces, with increased law enforcement and more youth-friendly facilities such as clubs and recreational areas;
  • Proximity to family and friends, and access to community gardens, allotments, and outdoor spaces. 

When asked about their top priorities for their first home, young people rated quality, safety, and cost/ affordability as most important, followed by being close to family/friends, access to green spaces, and having things to do. Their aspirations also included more efforts to reduce crime, more youth hubs and police presence, and a Walsall they can feel proud to call home. The engagement with young people has ensured their voices are incorporated into the strategy, helping to shape future plans that address the needs and ambitions of the next generation. Ongoing youth participation will be a core part of monitoring and refreshing the strategy, ensuring Walsall remains a safe, inclusive, and inspiring place for young people to grow and thrive. 

Governance and continuous improvement 

Feedback from all engagement activities was continuously monitored, analysed, and used to iteratively refine both the draft strategy and the supporting Delivery Plan. This agile approach allowed emerging insights—such as the importance of community-led housing initiatives and the need for stronger partnerships with local housing providers—to be incorporated in real time. 

Outcomes and impact

The outcome of this process is a Housing Strategy and Delivery Plan that is well-supported by stakeholders and also actionable and tailored to Walsall’s specific context. The strategy reflects the collective expertise, aspirations, and lived experiences of the Borough, and is designed to drive positive change for all residents. Local insights gathered through engagement have directly shaped priorities, ensuring that the strategy addresses real needs, is practical to deliver, and is aligned with Walsall’s ambitions for inclusive growth and sustainable communities.