Newnham Parish Council

Notices - 'Interesting Bits'

Newnham Parish Council & Action with Communities in Rural Kent Results of the 2006 Housing Needs Survey The housing needs survey was delivered to every household in Newnham Parish during May 2006. The purpose of the survey is to find out if there is a need for a local needs housing scheme in the parish. A summary of the main findings of the survey is given below: Section 1 · Response rate of 41% (a very good response for this type of survey) · Respondents to the survey were predominately owner occupiers (81%) · The 2001 census shows the level of rented accommodation at 20% of dwellings (7% private rented and 13% social rented) · From the survey 82% of respondents homes have 3 or more bedrooms · 55% of respondents have lived in Newnham for more than 11 years · 25 people had left the parish in recent years, of these 36% of respondents indicated that family members would return if affordable housing is available · Respondents perceived that housing for young people (24%) and rented housing (16%) are most needed in the parish · 23% of respondents would prefer to see no further houses built · 60% of respondents said they would be in favour of a small development to meet local housing needs · Written comments were received; concerns expressed about: o Increased traffic movements o Lack of facilities to support additional housing o Pressure on the conservation areas and surrounding countryside. Section 2 · 10 households (16% of all returned surveys) indicated a housing need · The 10 households that completed section 2 of the survey, indicating they had a housing need, were assessed to see if they would be eligible for local needs housing - that is they have a connection to the parish, they wish to remain living in the parish and are unable to afford suitable accommodation, in the parish, to either rent or buy on the open market. · 8 households are unable to rent privately or purchase a home on the open market suitable for their needs o 5 x single people o 1 x 2 person household o 2 x families 2 x 1 adult with 1 child · 7 out of the 8 households currently live in the village · 7 households are seeking their first independent home. A formula of need being 2 to 3 times greater than number of properties that maybe be built is used to calculate how many homes would meet existing and future housing need in the parish. For Newnham Parish this equals up to 4 affordable homes for local people. ___________________________________________________________________________ Local needs housing schemes are built to provide affordable (rented or shared ownership) homes for local people. The homes are managed by a housing association and an agreement sets out the criteria that any applicant would have to fulfil in order to be allocated a home. Importantly they must be able to demonstrate a connection to the parish, either through residency, close family or employment. As land within the village envelope is scarce and carries a high value, planning policy allows, where a proven need is established, for local needs housing schemes to be built outside of the normal limits to built development, this is known as an exception site. There are very strict criteria that must be met to ensure that the homes are sensitively designed, well located in relationship to the village, local services, the surrounding countryside and highways. In addition the homes must remain as affordable housing for local people in perpetuity. This means that the homes cannot be sold on the open market and local people will be given priority for the first and any subsequent vacancies. Jennifer Shaw Rural Housing Enabler Action with Communities in Rural Kent - Formerly, Kent Rural Community Council (Kent RCC)