A massive survey to assess housing
needs across North Yorkshire – now and in the future – kicks off
this month.
It sees all the housing authorities in North
Yorkshire joining forces in the biggest piece of housing research
ever undertaken in the region.
The findings will support each authority’s
Local Development Framework – the development plan for each area
used to guide future housing developments.
Around 160,000 homes will be targeted for the
survey. It looks at all aspects of housing – including affordable
housing, housing for older people and supported housing for
vulnerable people as well as the ‘open’ housing market of homes for
sale and rent.
“Housing markets and communities’ housing
aspirations don’t follow local Council boundaries,” said Councillor
Richard Foster, Chair of the Local Government North Yorkshire and
York Housing Board.
“We need to understand what type of housing
North Yorkshire people require now and in the future, so we can
plan properly to meet that need. And by working together we can not
only get that better understanding but save a considerable amount
of money.
“We urge people to complete the survey - the
information we get from local people is the best way to make sure
we get our housing plans and planning decisions in our local areas
right.”
A survey will be sent to around 160,000
households across the county – every home in rural areas and a
sample in the larger towns. Anyone not receiving a survey can still
take part by visiting: http://housingneedsurvey-nyshp.co.uk/
Residents living within the Selby District
Council area undertook a Housing Market Assessment in 2009 so are
not being asked to complete a questionnaire. Instead, the
consultants will review existing primary information and feed this
into their findings.
The survey will gather information about what
sort of homes people currently live in, how much they cost, and how
far people travel to work. It will also consider why
people choose to live where they do; what factors drive the housing
markets in North Yorkshire; the need for affordable housing as well
as homes to be sold and rented on the open market; and it will
analyse past, current, and future housing trends.
It will look at how people might expect to
live in the future, taking into account the changes in population,
household formations, and developments in the local economy across
the county. And it will focus on specific ‘local’ areas of
interest, such as the rural housing market, affordability of
housing, the growth in the number of people buying to let, those
having second homes and the housing needs of older people and those
with special needs.
In addition to the survey, consultants GVA
will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the housing markets
across the area consulting with estate and land agents, planners,
housebuilders and housing associations. They will use
information from a range of other sources to come up with
conclusions about how the housing markets work across North
Yorkshire, and what sort of homes are needed in the
future.
- The survey is being undertaken by Vison
Twentyone, working alongside GVA on behalf of the district and
borough councils of Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Ryedale,
Richmondshire, Scarborough, Selby and the City of York Council,
together with North Yorkshire County Council, and the National Park
Authorities in the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales.
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