1.Introduction

A local Housing Needs Survey offers a snapshot of the housing situation in the parish at the time of the survey; the outcomes will alter with increasing/decreasing values of housing, changes in the economic climate and the lending policies of banks and building societies, demographic changes in the community, and the changing circumstances of individual households.

Sheviock Parish Council conducted a Housing Needs Survey in partnership with Cornwall Council. 364 forms and an explanatory letter were dispatched on 4th April 2013, and the closing date was 17th May 2013. A copy of the survey form and letter are attached as Appendix 1.

 

It is generally held that local needs surveys remain robust for a period of 3 years and should be updated, if necessary, after 5 years. This document sets out the survey results, and includes additional data from Cornwall Council’s Homechoice register. As well as identifying housing need within the parish the results of the survey will be used in support of the generation of the Sheviock Neighbourhood Development Plan by the Parish Council.

2. The objectives of the survey were to:

• Establish the need for affordable housing within the parish;
•  Identify the extent and nature of the affordable housing need;
•  Establish attitudes towards further residential development;
•  Identify land that may become available in the future.

3. The methodology used for the research criteria consisted of:

•  Sending out surveys and explanatory letter to all households of the Parish of Sheviock who are on the electoral register;
•  A freepost return address for the replies;
• A standard questionnaire designed to seek information on current and emerging affordable housing need;
• A comments section within the questionnaire for residents to expand on their responses.

4. Response Rate

A total of 364 surveys were sent out, of which 67 were completed giving a total response rate of 18%.

5. Analysis of Results

In terms of assessing statistical accuracy using a ‘confidence level’ of 95%, there is a ‘margin of error’ (a ‘confidence interval’) of 11. In straightforward terms this means that if (say) 45% of respondents pick the same answer to a particular question, the level of confidence suggests that we can be 95% certain that between 34% (45 minus 11) and 56% (45 plus 11) of all households would have picked that same answer had all households responded to that particular question. The margin for error of 11 is considered slightly higher than other samples, but within acceptable margins, and the data sufficiently robust to gain an outline picture of the current housing and household circumstances, and an understanding of what people might need and can afford.

6. Summary of Findings

Current position within the parish

Of the 67 surveys returned:

•  90% of properties are main homes
•  10% are second homes

The remaining questions in Part One of the survey were answered only by those respondents whose main residence is within the parish (60 possible responses).

Question 2 had 60 responses and of those:

• 67% of homes are houses, 30% are bungalows and 3% are other types of accommodation.

Question 3 had 60 responses and of those:

•   73% of homes are owned outright
•   15% of homes are owned with a mortgage
•   2% of homes are shared ownership
•  2% of households rent from the Local Authority
•   2% rent from a Housing Association
•   5% of households rent from a private landlord
•   2% of homes are tied to a job or other source

Question 4 had 60 responses and of those:

•   2% of properties have 1 bedroom
•  18% of properties have 2 bedrooms
•   50% have 3 bedrooms
•   30% have 4 or more bedrooms

Question 5 had 60 responses and of those:

•  27% of households have 1 person living there
•  57% of households have 2 people living there
•  17% of households have 3 or more people living there

Question 10 had 56 responses and from those households:

•   52% of residents are male
•   48% of residents are female
•   8% of residents are aged 0-10
•   7% of residents are aged 11-20
•   6% of residents are aged 21-30
•   6% of residents are aged 31-40
•  10% of residents are aged 41-50
•  14% of residents are aged 51-60
•  30% of residents are aged 61-70
•  11% of residents are aged 71-80
•  5% of residents are aged 81-90
•  3% of residents are aged 91-100

7. Need for Affordable Housing

3 people said that they knew of family members who had moved away due to difficulties in finding an affordable home in the parish and would return if affordable housing was available.

6 people stated that their household wished to move to another house either now or within the next 5 years.

Part Two of the survey, addressing specific needs for affordable housing in the parish, was completed only by respondents who answered yes to either of these questions (8 possible responses).

Part Two

Question 12 – Where does your household live?

•  6 respondents live as a single household within the parish

Timescale

Question 13 – When does the household need to move?

•  4 respondents would like to move into an alternative home within the next 2 years
•  1 respondent needs to move within 2 to 5 years
•  1 respondent needs to move in 5 years or more

Housing Requirements

Question 14 – Where are you looking to move to?

•   3 respondents ticked within the Sheviock parish
•   1 respondent ticked outside the parish (but still within Rame Peninsula)
•   1 respondent ticked outside the parish (and not within Rame Peninsula)
•   2 respondents ticked that they didn’t mind

Question 15 – What is the minimum number of bedrooms you require?

•   4 respondents require 2 bedroom accommodation
•  2 respondents require 3 bedroom accommodation

Question 16 – Preference for buying/renting

•  3 respondents would like to buy their property on the open market.
•  2 respondents would like to rent from a housing association
•  1 respondent would like shared ownership (part rent-part buy)

3 respondents to these questions are on the Homechoice
register.

Question 18 – What type of accommodation do you require?

•   3 respondents require a house
•   1 respondent requires a bungalow
•   1 respondent requires a house or a bungalow
•   1 respondent requires a house, a bungalow or a flat/maisonette

Question 19 – The reasons given for needing to move were:

•  Need a smaller home (2 responses)
•  Need a cheaper home (1 response)
•  Need to be closer to carer/dependent (1 response)
•  Need to set up independent accommodation (1 response)
•  1 respondent ticked ‘other’ and stated the reason being the sale of rented property

Question 20 – Type of household

•   2 respondents are couples
•   3 respondents are two parent families
•   1 respondent is a lone parent family

Local Connections

•  6 respondents have been permanently resident in the parish for the last 3 years
•  Of these, 1 respondent has also worked in the parish for the last 3 years
•  4 respondents have been living in the parish for 5 years
•  0 respondents have family members who have formerly lived in the parish for a   continuous period of five years

Affordability

If you wish to buy a home what total house price can you afford?

•  1 household can afford between £50,000 – £69,999
•  1 household can afford between £200,000 – 249,999
•  2 households can afford £250,000 and over

If you wish to rent a home what is the maximum rent you can afford?

• 1 household can afford between £50 – £99 per week in rent
• 4 households can afford between £100 – £149 per week in rent

Total monthly take home income

•   2 households have a monthly take home income of between £1250 – £1665
•   2 households have a monthly take home income of between £1666 and £2499
•   1 household has a monthly take home income of above £3300

8. Support for Affordable Housing in the parish

58 people responded to the question about support for Affordable Housing in the parish and of those:

•  64% (37 respondents) would support a small development of affordable housing for local people within the parish if there were a proven need
• 17% (10 respondents) said that they might be supportive
• 19% (11 respondents) would not support this
  Statements of support for affordable housing within the parish

Respondents were asked to tick all statements which they agreed with relating to affordable housing:

• 26 agree that affordable housing should ideally be provided in one compact development;
• 32 agree that affordable housing should ideally be provided in small sites scattered throughout the parish;
• 43 respondents agree that affordable housing should be provided to anyone living in, or homeless (but formerly resident) in the parish who can’t afford to rent or buy;
• 35 agree that affordable housing should be available to people who have lived or worked in the parish for the past 3 years;
• 35 agree that affordable housing should be available to people who have lived in the parish for 5 years, but may not live there now;
• 38 agree that affordable housing should not be made available to anyone who has never lived in the parish.

Some respondents chose not to tick any statements.

9. Identifying land within the parish

Respondents were asked if they were aware of any sites in the parish that might be suitable for an affordable housing scheme.

The following locations were given:

• Next Middle Barn, towards Sheviock Lane
• Crafthole and Sheviock Lane
• Antony Estate land
• Top of Sheviock Lane
• Below Sheviock Lane/slip road
• Near Community Hall
• This assumes need for new build. What about purchase schemes for existing.
• Adjacent to Homeleigh

10. Other Housing Needs data

Cornwall Homechoice

In order to identify more local housing needs information the Council has invested in Cornwall Homechoice, a sophisticated housing register system to collect and collate housing needs information by village, parish and town. The register also contains information about local people who may not necessarily be currently resident in the parish. It is important that local people who need affordable housing are registered with Homechoice.

Homechoice data (Non Questionnaire information)
A total of 19 applicants with a local connection to the parish of Sheviock have applied to the housing register as of May 2013.

Size of Accommodation
Applicant Type	1Bed	2Bed	3Bed	4Bed+	Total
Band A	0	0	0	0	0
Band B	0	0	0	0	0
Band C	2	2	1	0	5
Band D	1	2	0	0	3
Band E	9	1	1	0	11
Total	12	5	2	0	19

A total of 8 applicants to the Homechoice register have expressed a preference for living in the parish of Sheviock.

Size of Accommodation
Applicant Type	1Bed	2Bed	3Bed	4Bed+	Total
Band A	0	0	0	0	0
Band B	0	0	0	0	0
Band C	0	0	0	0	0
Band D	0	4	0	0	4
Band E	2	0	2	0	4
Total	2	4	2	0	8

11.  Conclusions and Recommendations

The survey identified 3 households in need of affordable housing, and a further 3 who had moved away but who might return to the parish if they had access to affordable housing.

There are 19 qualifying local households already registered with Homechoice. This includes only three survey respondents, and so the remainder do not appear to have responded to the survey.

Eight Homechoice applicants expressed the parish as their preferred location, and this number is broadly consistent with survey findings for those who want to remain in the parish.

The combined data suggests that there is a need for a small number of affordable homes in the parish, with the majority indicating a level of support for a small project for the benefit of those with a local connection. A number of potential site locations were identified.

Income and affordability data suggests that rented accommodation would best meet local needs.

Reassurance about priority for local people would need to be addressed by making appropriate provision in any section 106 planning obligation, and a detailed Local Lettings Plan covering both tenures.

Next Steps

The Parish Council notes that most respondents would support a small development of affordable rent properties in the village and will reflect this in its preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan.

The parish council can refer to Cornwall Council’s Rural Toolkit guidance for identifying opportunities to provide affordable housing, and should refer to this report when assessing any opportunities that landowners might bring forward in the interim.