This article was written a few years ago but it could still be useful for groups considering the specific issue of a lack of affordable market housing.
This is a common issue raised by communities, namely that there is a lack of market housing which first time buyers can access in the local area. As a result, young people who have grown up in the area are forced to move away in order to buy a property. There is therefore a wish to try and secure a certain proportion of market housing within developments which, as far as is possible, provides small, affordable starter homes. This example could equally apply to the need for private rented accommodation and the template tries to cover this as well.
It is important to be clear that this issue is distinct from any need for social housing or other type of affordable product, the purchase of which is not wholly funded through a mortgage or cash purchase.
Topic |
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Housing Need |
Specific issues to be addressed |
A lack of affordable market housing |
What do neighbourhood groups have to be able to properly demonstrate with the evidence they collect in order to ensure that NP policy is robust? |
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What evidence do neighbourhood groups need to collect to help them demonstrate the issue and develop policy? |
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What questions should they ask (either through a survey or focus group, etc) in order to gather effective evidence? |
Local residents
Those not currently living in the area (if they can be identified) Would you like to live in this area? If yes, then does the cost of housing prevent you from doing so? Would you look to rent or to buy a property? What size of property would this be? Estate agents Would this type of housing be attractive in this location to those from outside the area? Do you have evidence of demand from people for these types of properties? Private rented landlords
Developers
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What evidence have you got to help neighbourhoods demonstrate the issue and develop policy? - How useful is it for them? - Is it in a useable form? |
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Evidence |
Useful? |
Useable format? |
Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) |
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Affordable Housing Needs Assessment (which may address market housing) |
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Affordable Housing Viability Study (which may address market housing) |
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Local/District Housing Need Surveys |
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Local Housing Needs Register/Choice-Based Lettings Register |
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Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) |
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Rural Exception sites – adopted policy and any Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) |
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Monitoring data – number of planning permissions/completions by type of dwelling, size and location; building regulations data on completions |
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Core Strategy/Local Plan SA/SEA background information |
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S106 viability appraisals on local schemes to support applications |
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Community Infrastructure Levy viability appraisals |
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Local authority Council Tax band information |
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Population projections |
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Vacant property data |
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Planning application database |