A partnership of Gloucestershire local authorities has secured government funding to launch a project that will change the way people access housing in the county. 

The project, called "Choice Based Lettings" is based on a model that sees vacant  council and housing association homes advertised for rent in a style similar to an estate agent, where customers have more choice and control over where they live.  There are also plans to include shared ownership properties and to offer the service to private landlords in the future.

Similar schemes have been increasingly and successfully implemented all across the country over the last 7 years and it is hoped that this scheme will help make the process of applying for a home simpler, fairer and easier to understand.

The local authorities that form the Partnership are:

• Cheltenham Borough Council
• Cotswold District Council
• Gloucester City Council
• Forest of Dean District Council
• Tewkesbury Borough Council
• Stroud District Council is looking at joining the Partnership in the near future.

Together they form the Gloucestershire Choice Based Lettings Partnership and they hope to have the scheme up and running by April 2009.

Plans include a programme of events to publicise the scheme and to find out the views and opinions of local people - details of the events will be advertised in local press and through council offices:

Click here for more details