Ashfield District Council has been shortlisted for the Council of the Year award in the Affordable Housing Awards.

The award recognises authorities that have used their strategic role to provide leadership, facilitate social housing development, and meet local affordable rented housing need.

Over the last 12 months the council has supported hundreds of rough sleepers, secured £4.5m-worth of external funding for energy-efficiency works, and 34 new affordable homes are currently under construction.

Coun Tom Hollis, executive lead for Social Housing and Climate Change, said: “We are over the moon at being shortlisted for Council of the Year. The Council has been constantly working to improve the lives of residents and tenants and it’s fantastic to see this work being recognised. From our ambitious Council home building programme to our work improving energy efficiency of existing homes, we are committed to providing high quality homes.”

In the final round of judging, the judges praised the council’s work to provide women fleeing domestic abuse with high quality emergency accommodation. As well as this, they commended the extent and strength of the council’s partnership working across a range of other housing projects. Winners will be announced in mid-November.