Sandhurst (Tewkesbury Borough) Parish Housing Needs Survey Report October 2015 Martin Hutchings Rural Housing Enabler Gloucestershire Rural Community Council Community House, 15 College Green, Gloucester GL1 2LZ Tel: 01452 528491 Fax 01452 528493 Email: [email protected] CONTENTS page 1. Introduction 3 2. Parish summary 3 3. Aim 3 4. Survey distribution and response 4 5. Key findings 5 Part A - You and your household 5 Part B - Home working 15 Part C - Housing needs 17 6. Affordability 18 7. Existing Affordable Housing Stock 23 8. Summary 23 9. Conclusions 25 10. Recommendations 25 Sandhurst Parish Housing Needs Survey Report (October 2015) 2 Gloucestershire Rural Community Council 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 In August 2015 Sandhurst Parish Council agreed to engage GRCC’S Rural Housing Enabler to carry out a local Housing Needs Survey. 1.2 The Rural Housing Enabler (RHE): is employed by Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, which is part of the national network of Rural Community Councils (ACRE - Action with Communities in Rural England). works closely with rural communities, housing associations, local authorities, other community organisations (including community land trusts) and landowners to meet the affordable housing needs of rural communities. is an independent advisor, although, the post is funded through contributions from Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Stroud District Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and ten housing associations. 2. PARISH SUMMARY The Census 2011 tells us Sandhurst has a population of 470 comprising 205 households. This equates to an average of 2.3 persons per household compared to 2.4 for Gloucestershire as a whole. Where surveys of this kind have been undertaken is usual for a rural parish to have on average smaller households than Gloucestershire as a whole. There are 226 dwellings in total, including 216 houses, 8 flats and 2 caravans/ temporary accommodation. By road Sandhurst village is 3 miles from Gloucester, 10 miles from Cheltenham, and 10 miles from Tewkesbury . The nearest station on the national rail network is in Gloucester. There are good public transport links by bus from Twigworth on the A38 Gloucester and Tewkesbury. However, Sandhurst is connected to Twigworth by a 2 mile long narrow country lane with no raised footpaths or street lighting. Sandhurst has the following facilities: church, village hall, cricket club. 3. AIM 3.1 The purpose of the survey is to investigate and establish the affordable housing needs of people who live in or have close ties to Sandhurst. By comparing the established needs with the existing supply of affordable housing and the number of re-lets, we can estimate the number of dwellings, house types and tenure of new units required to meet the town’s needs. 3.2 Housing needs can be defined as the need for a household to obtain housing which is suitable to meet their requirements in terms of: House type and accessibility e.g. house, bungalow, flat etc Sandhurst Parish Housing Needs Survey Report (October 2015) 3 Gloucestershire Rural Community Council Size and number of rooms Location e.g. in relation to employment, schools, family, shops and public services etc Affordability Tenure, including security 3.3 The aim of the survey is to provide Sandhurst Parish Council with an independent report of a robust nature based on evidence from reliable sources. This will assist the Parish Council to respond to any planning proposal that may come forward for additional housing within the parish. 4. SURVEY DISTRIBUTION AND RESPONSE 4.1 In September 2015 questionnaires were distributed by the parish council to every home in the parish. 4.2 Householders were requested to return completed questionnaires in an enclosed freepost envelope to GRCC’s offices in Gloucester. 4.3 Part A is entitled ‘You and your household’ and is for every household to complete. Part B is entitled ‘Home Working’ and is also for everyone to complete. And finally, Part C is entitled ‘Housing Needs’ and is for completion by households in need of more suitable accommodation. People were asked to provide their name and contact details if they would like further information in the event affordable housing is provided in Sandhurst. Personal details are neither presented in this report nor passed to a third party. 4.4 A total of 226 questionnaires were distributed. Everyone was asked to complete Parts A and B of the form. If a household considered themselves in need, or likely to be in need of re- housing, they were invited to complete Part C of the form. Households were asked to forward the questionnaire to anyone they knew of who had moved away but might wish to return to live in Sandhurst. All those people who completed Part C indicated they aleady lived in Sandhurst parish, and some of these also worked in trhe parish. 4.5 Taking the 205 households living in Sandhurst parish (according to Census 2011) there was a response rate of 54% with 110 completed replies received. A previous Sandhurst housing needs survey undertaken by GRCC in 2010 had a 50% response rate. The rate of response compares favourably to other similar surveys carried out in Gloucestershire, for example: Oddington 31%; Ebrington 40%; and Twigworth 36%). The survey provides no direct evidence of the needs of those who did not respond to the questionnaires there are other useful sources that inform of housing needs i.e. the District Council’s housing register (Gloucestershire Homeseeker), District-wide Housing Needs Survey 2009 and Gloucestershire Strategic Housing Market Assessment. Sandhurst Parish Housing Needs Survey Report (October 2015) 4 Gloucestershire Rural Community Council 5. KEY FINDINGS Part A – You and your household 5.1 108 respondents reported that their home in Sandhurst was their main home, no-one reported it was their second home, 2 made no reply. 5.2 Question A2 asked…How many years have you lived in Sandhurst? Table A below indicates the length of time respondents have lived in Sandhurst. 51% of respondents have lived in the parish for 20 years or more or their whole life. 17% of residents have lived in Sandhurst for 4 years or less. Table A – How many years have you lived in Sandhurst? 5.3 Question A3 asked... How would you describe your home? Table B below shows 86% of respondents live in a house, 9% live in a bungalow, none live in a flat, sheltered/ retirement and caravan, and 3% live in ‘other’. Table B - How would you describe your home? Sandhurst Parish Housing Needs Survey Report (October 2015) 5 Gloucestershire Rural Community Council 5.4 Question A4 asked... How many bedrooms does your home have? Table C below shows 87% of homes have three or more bedrooms, 12% of homes have 2 bedrooms, and none have one bedroom according to the survey response. Table C – How many bedrooms does your home have? 5.5 Question A5 asked… How many people live in your home? Table D below shows 69% are 1 or 2 person households, 24% are 3 or 4 person households, 6% are 5 person or more households, and 1% did not reply. Table D – How many people live in your home? 5.6 Question A6 asked…Please indicate how many people in your household in each age group. Table E below provides the responses. Sandhurst Parish Housing Needs Survey Report (October 2015) 6 Gloucestershire Rural Community Council 5.7 Tables E and F compare age profiles between those who responded to the survey questionnaire Part A and Gloucestershire County Council’s population estimate for 2013. 5.8 The figures shown in Tables E and F demonstrate that people in the age bands 20-29 are significantly underrepresented in the survey. Whilst people in age band 65 years plus are overrepresented in the survey. Table E – Age profile of respondents according to the Sandhurst survey Table F - Age profile distribution according to Gloucestershire County Council Maiden estimate for 2013 Sandhurst Parish Housing Needs Survey Report (October 2015) 7 Gloucestershire Rural Community Council 5.9 Question A7 asked…How many members of your household are male and how many are female? 116 (45%) indicated male and 140 (55%) female. 5.10 Question A8 asked …What is the tenure of your home? Table G below shows 89% of respondents in Sandhurst are owner-occupiers, of whom two thirds do not have a mortgage. 3% live in private rented, 6% live in housing association or local authority rented, and none live in tied accommodation or shared ownership. Table G – What is the tenure of your home? 5.11 Question A9 asked…Has your home been adapted to improve physical accessibility? 5 respondents said ‘yes’. 5.12 Question A10 asked... Has anyone from your family moved away from Sandhurst in the last 5 years to difficulty finding an affordable home locally? 2 respondents answered ‘yes’. 5.13 Question A11 asked...If a need is identified, would you support a small development of affordable homes for local people? 24% said ‘yes’, 34% said ‘maybe’, and 37% said ‘no’. 5% gave no reply. 5.14 Question A12 asked…Please suggest where such a development (small development of affordable homes) could be built. • Gloucester city – re generation & existing brown field sites. This will assist with regeneration and the city centre • On brownfield land Sandhurst Parish Housing Needs Survey Report (October 2015) 8 Gloucestershire Rural Community Council • Nowhere – keep greenfield sites • No suitable sites in Sandhurst, as too rural • The recreation field • On the east side of the road going north from 50 848 225 to 848227. One could get 2 – 3 houses between the farm on the corner of the A38, or the petrol station or beyond.