Housing Needs Surveys

Housing Needs Surveys 

All local authorities have a statutory duty to assess housing need within their area as per the 1985 Housing Act.

Nationally there is a significant shortfall in provision of housing compared with the level of need. Locally the Objectively Assessed Housing Needs Report produced by Cambridge University identifies the level of housing need. This is supplemented by the earlier Strategic Housing Market Assessment which looks at the types of housing that is required.

Although these reports identify the level of housing across the district, we also need to understand the housing need on a more local level.

One of the ways in which we do this is by conducting Housing Surveys, which help identify whether the area needs market housing, affordable housing or both.   

The survey report on its own will not be used as a tool to develop housing, but it could be used as an evidence base to underpin a planning application, should one be submitted. 

Completing our surveys - data is processed in accordance with the Council’s Housing Needs Privacy Notice 


Methodology on assessing local housing need - guidance document (for developers)

The following guidance has been provided to enable developers or those working on behalf of developers to undertake a Housing Needs Survey in line with the approach as per the Settlements and Countryside Local Plan. As the council operates a periodic renewal program, this approach should be discussed with the Council at an early stage in the planning process in order to avoid any duplication.

Methodology for the undertaking of HNAs and accompanying reports