2015
Rural Housing Need Survey Analysis
NEWBOLD COLEORTON
North West Leicestershire District Council
Strategic Housing
Contents:
Summary
Introduction
Purpose of the survey
Local data
Survey results:
Household Respondents Tenure of residents Property types Housing desirability Support for housing Housing need analysis About the village Comments
Conclusion
Contacts
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Summary A housing need survey was carried out in the village of Newbold Coleorton in December 2014.
Results obtained showed that there was a need of up to 7 mixed tenure and size properties for local people enabling them to be suitably housed within the community
These could be developed in a “rural exception site” if available, and subject to local support, some open market sale homes could be used to cross-subsidise the affordable homes.
Introduction This report forms part of North West Leicestershire District Council’s five year rolling plan to identify the housing needs of all of our residents who live in settlements, villages, hamlets containing fewer than 3000 residents by means of a postal survey form.
Average property prices in rural areas have increased more than in urban areas in monetary terms over the past 5 years according to the Halifax Rural Housing Review 2013, forcing many local residents to move away from their towns and villages in order to find suitable and affordable homes. House prices in the countryside are now from £20,000 to £50,000 higher than in urban areas, despite average wages being lower.
The National Housing Federation, Rural Housing research report 2013, says that the number of people on waiting lists for affordable homes in rural England has soared to around 550,000. New household formation is outstripping supply by 3:1 (source: CLG). Increasing house prices and the limited availability of appropriate properties has resulted in local people being unable to find a home within their community.
Purpose of the survey The Council is duty bound to gather information about the housing needs of its communities so we may understand the needs of all our residents, whether they wish to buy their own home, part rent or part buy (shared ownership), rent privately or through a social landlord such as the Council or a Housing Association.
The information from these surveys will be used to make sure that any new homes built reflect what is needed by existing local residents who have a connection to the particular area.
If any new homes are built, it is important that they are in keeping with the village and are built to a high standard of design. The Council’s adopted design initiative has ensured that the overall design of recent housing developments such as those in Belton, Long Whatton, Breedon and Heather are of the highest specification.
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North West Leicestershire District Council Rural Needs Survey undertaken Winter 2014/15
Newbold Coleorton Newbold Coleorton is situated in the central section of the district, in the parish of Worthington, in the Valley ward. As of February 2015, the average house price in Newbold Coleorton according to Right Move is just over £200,000. The 2011 census states that the population of the Parish of Worthington is 1,461.
The following sections of this report details the responses from the questionnaires distributed and returned during December 2014 and January 2015 from residents in Newbold Coleorton.
229 surveys were sent out to households in Newbold Coleorton. 46 responses were received which is approximately 20 percent of the households in Newbold Coleorton. The majority of responses came from people who have lived in the villages for over 10 years so would have a more comprehensive understanding of the issues, if any, within the villages.
Please note that there may be some difference in number of responses to a question as not all of the respondents answered all of the questions.
Years in Parish
Residents generally feel positive about living in Newbold Coleorton.
Describe village
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The main issue identified was lack of facilities with 32 respondents highlighting this.
The survey asked all residents about their current accommodation, their household type, their general thoughts about the village and if they thought there was a need for any new homes. The responses to these questions form the first part of this report.
The second part of this report presents the responses of those residents who indicated that they would need another home within the village during the next 5 years.
The responses to the survey are confidential as some contain personal details. Where specific comments have been submitted, these have been collated and summarised.
Household Respondants: This section looks at who responded to the survey.
Household type
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Age range of respondents
49 percent of people included in the responses are aged between 25 and 64 years old, followed by 27 percent aged 65 years and over. Young adults represented 5 percent of the household members that responded to the survey.
People most likely to be entering a period of transit in their lives where they are looking for suitable, affordable accommodation are young people in need of their first independent home and elderly people who have specific needs based on health related issues.
A report carried out by the Commission for Rural Communities in 2010 entitled “State of the Countryside” found that the proportion of people aged 15-29 living in rural areas fallen from 21% to 15% in the past 20 years - a period that has coincided with limited traditional employment opportunities and increasing house prices. The full report may be found at www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk
The next graphs illustrate the current property types and tenures of those households that responded to the survey. Households living in larger family homes, three or more bedrooms, accounted for three quarters of respondents and 91 percent of respondents owned their home, either outright or with a mortgage.
Current tenure
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Property type
This next graph illustrates the responses received regarding the type of housing required in the villages. Please note that those responding could highlight more than one type of housing and some households did not respond to the main question but still indicated in other questions that there was a requirement for some types of property.
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In the last 5 years 7 households had a total of 11 members leaving the village. The reasons for this were: to attend university or college, marriage or separation employment elsewhere bereavement lack of affordable housing
New housing
Of the people who responded to the survey, 67 percent said that they would support new housing based on identified local need.
Concerns around new housing that were identified by respondents were: Inadequate infrastructure Already enough houses Building on green space
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Roads and parking
The next question asked if the respondent felt that there is a lack of adquate housing in the village:
Housing needs
Of the 46 responses 7 households in Newbold Coleorton indicated that they or a family member would require alternative housing within the next 5 years
Ref Local Household Reason for need Preferred home connection details and tenure 3 Live here now Lone parent Oldest child requires Rent from council, family with 3 first independent HA or private. 1 children home. Disabled bed flat or need bungalow 5 Born/grew up 2 parent family First indpendent Open market here with 2 grown home purchase 2 bed up children house 6 Live here now Couple in Landlord selling Rent from council 2 private rent property bed dwelling 7 Live here now Two parent Present home too Open market family small purchase 4 bed house 25 Live here now Two parent First independent Open market family home purchase 3 bed house 36 Born here One person Couple setting up Open market
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household home together purchase 4 bed house 47 Born here Couple Wish to return to be Affordable close to family purchase 3 bed house
Other comments on village issues in more detail. Respondent commented on what they felt were the main issues affecting the villages. The comments are summarised as follows:
Lack of infrastructure issues overwhelming mentioned: . Shop . Village Hall . Rural transport/bus service and links . School capacity
Also mentioned were . Sports facilities . Activities for young people or elderly people Development could impact of character and space within village Building in rural spaces Issues with road safety including parking and speeding
Conclusion: Of the 46 households who responded to the survey, 7 households which is approximately 15 percent, have an identified housing need. These respondents require council or housing association properties of 1 or 2 bedroom bungalows or flats, and small and large open market properties and affordable properties.
These properties should be for those with a local connection.
Another survey will be undertaken in the Parish of Worthington in 2019/20
Contacts: For more information about the rural surveys or information about affordable rural housing in North West Leicestershire, please contact: [email protected] [email protected] http://www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/affordable_rural_housing
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