Housing Needs Surveys
Every local authority has a responsibility to produce a housing strategy based on up-to-date assessments of aggregate housing needs in their area. These strategies are reflected in authorities annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP) submissions to central government, and an assessment of their quality contributes to DCLG decisions on HIP resource allocation. Local housing needs assessment also plays a crucial role in underpinning land-use planning policies relating to affordable housing, a policy area increasingly emphasied by central government. In addition, information on local needs is required to guide new provision investment (mainly involving RSLs) and to inform local authority policies on stock conversion, demolition and transfer.
Some local authorities have carried out housing needs surveys in the past few years and these were widely recognised as valuable tools for local housing needs assessment. These surveys are soon to be replaced by new Strategic Housing Market Assessments which will provide a detailed analysis of housing markets in local authority areas allowing local authorities to assess current and future need and demand for both market and affordable housing.
This page last updated: 07-01-2008