Hartshill Housing Needs Survey
Survey commissioned in partnership with Hartshill Parish Council and North Warwickshire Borough Council.
Analysis by Paul Roberts
Housing Strategy and Development Officer
North Warwickshire Borough Council
February 2012
Contents Page No
Summary of Results 3
Planning Context 4
Survey Results 5
Resident’s Comments (Appendix A) 13
Properties for Sale (Appendix B) 22
Contact Details 23
Summary of results
1578 forms were distributed throughout the village and we received a return rate of 274 returns. This equates to a response rate of 16%.
The last Housing Needs Survey to be done within Hartshill was in 2006 and so therefore was vastly out of date with the housing needs that may exist within the Parish. From that Housing Needs Survey, the following need was established:
6 x 2 bed houses for rent
4 x 2 bed bungalows for rent
1 x 3 bed house for rent
2 x 4 bed houses for rent
2 x 2 bed houses for shared ownership.
After discussions with Hartshill Parish Council and Warwickshire County Council who have some land parcels within the Parish, it was decided to go ahead and do a survey to find out the feelings of the residents and to ascertain what housing need did exist within the Parish. The survey went out in December 2011 and the return date was 31 January 2012.
After collation of the returned surveys, we have had 60residents expressing some form of housing need within Hartshill and that is broken down as follows. Of the 60 people who expressed a need, 28 did not supply address details so could not be followed up to get ant real data in regards to their needs.
We have followed up the forms where people have left contact details and the following needs were established.
2 bed houses
Rented = 8
Shared Ownership /Low Cost Home Ownership = 13
3 bed houses
Rented = 6
Shared Ownership/Low Cost Home Ownership = 4
Bungalows
Rented = 3
Shared Ownership/Low Cost Home Ownership = 2
Planning Context
North Warwickshire Borough Council’s Local Plan adopted in July 2006 sets out a Settlement Hierarchy that identifies, among others, Local Service Centre’s (such as Hartshill).
Although planning policy at all levels (national, regional and local) imposes considerable restraint on new housing development in rural areas, the Local Plan sets out the circumstances under which new housing development will be permitted.
In Local Service Centre’s, housing developments will be permitted at a scale proportionate to their position in the Settlement Hierarchy and where such development would maintain or enhance the function of the settlement.
An element of affordable housing will be sought on all housing developments in Local Service Centre’s that provide 5 or more dwellings or involve sites of 0.2 hectares or more. The element of affordable housing sought will be expected to amount to 40% (minimum) of the total housing provision on the site concerned.
There is further capacity for this restraint to be relaxed in exceptional circumstances where new housing would meet an identified local need and the Local Plan also deals with the provision of Rural Exception Sites as an important source of affordable housing within or adjacent to existing villages.
In exceptional circumstances, Councils can provide sites for affordable housing where market housing would be refused. Sites that are released for this type of development will be small in nature and remain affordable in perpetuity.
When making applications for such sites it is expected that evidence will be provided of local need based on research within the settlement and its hinterland.
This report, based on the Housing Needs Survey, will be provided as evidence of local need in Hartshill as a Local Service Centre.
Any housing that may be provided as a result of this survey would be subject to a planning obligation, known as a Section 106 agreement, being placed on the development. This would limit occupation of the homes to people with a local connection. In the first place, priority will be given to those who currently live or work where the development is taking place.
Survey Results
Do you own your own home (with or without a mortgage)
(If yes, go directly to Question 5)
Yes = 222
No = 49
No answer = 3
If you rent your home, which of the following do you rent your property from?
Private Landlord = 11
Housing Association = 16
Local Authority = 20
Other = 3
Would you like to own your own home, but cannot afford to buy one in Hartshill that suits your needs?
Yes = 17
No = 29
No answer = 4
Would you be happy to continue to rent your home or consider moving to another form of rental arrangement?
Yes = 39
No = 8
No answer = 4
Are you aware of the range of housing options potentially available for local people?
Yes = 121
No = 144
No answer = 9
At the beginning of this survey, you were given explanations about the four key housing tenure options that could be available to local people unable to purchase a home outright. Were you aware of these options before you received this survey?
Shared Ownership/Shared Equity
Yes = 182
No = 76
No answer = 16
Affordable Rent via a Housing Association
Yes = 193
No = 67
No answer = 13
Open Market Rent
Yes = 180
No = 75
No answer = 19
Intermediate Rent
Yes = 96
No = 161
No answer = 17
Is your home of sufficient size for your present and/or future needs?
Yes = 245
No = 23
No answer = 6
Do you need to move to larger accommodation, either now or in the foreseeable future, but are unable to do so because you cannot afford a suitable property?
Yes = 16
No = 103
No answer = 155
Do you have any family or dependents (either living with you or elsewhere) who wish to purchase their own home in Hartshill, but cannot afford to buy in the open market?
Yes = 49
No = 219
No answer = 6
Do you know of anyone who works in Hartshill, but who cannot afford to live in the village?
Yes = 14
No = 252
No answer = 8
To your knowledge have you, or any of those indicated as being unable to afford a suitable home in Hartshill, registered this need with North Warwickshire Borough Council?
Yes = 15
No = 227
No answer = 32
In your opinion do you think that Hartshill suffers from the wrong type of housing provision for local people and their families?
Yes = 59
No = 186
No answer = 29
Do you think that Hartshill should have any more of the following accommodation?
Shared equity and/or shared ownership priced below open market values.
Yes = 91
No = 8
No answer = 175
Social rented homes provided by a Housing Association
Yes = 59
No = 11
No answer = 204
Rented accommodation provided by landlords at open market rent levels
Yes = 44
No = 8
No answer = 210
Rented accommodation provided by landlords at rents below market levels
Yes = 56
No = 8
No answer = 210
Homes for Local People
Yes = 151
No = 3
No answer = 120
First Time Buyers
Yes = 165
No = 3
No answer = 106
Other
Yes = 27
No = 6
No answer = 241
Do you think that Hartshill should provide affordable homes for people who do not live, work or have a family connection to the village?
Yes = 90
No = 171
No answer = 13
Appendix A – Residents Comments
= There may be call for more ground floor level accommodation for elderly people and perhaps with wardens.
= We would not like to see anymore social housing as it would encourage anti-social behaviour, like that on Whitehall and Stoneleigh Close. Greenbelt land should be left as it is.
= More accommodation for elderly people
= There is a lack of smaller houses and bungalows at affordable prices/rent for older people to move into after their families have left home or they become unable to afford/manage larger properties.
= More for elderly and disabled such as bungalows. I’ve lived in Hartshill for forty seven years. I would not like to live anywhere else.
= 1. Social Housing, 2. Sheltered Housing, 3. Specialized housing for disabled and aged, 4. Single Person Housing.
= We lived in a three bed housing association home. It would be nice to have the option to move into a two bed retirement bungalow in Hartshill (P.S We are retired)
= With the large number of school children in Hartshill and only 15% Social Rented properties, this might be an area to concentrate. To provide affordable housing for young people.
= Should not allow building of houses in people’s back gardens.
= Rented homes lower than open market rent, also affordable housing for first time buyers and assistance with deposits for first time buyers.
= More houses and bungalows - not flats. I would personally love to move somewhere where I can have a garden and or a small house, 2 bedroom. It is now getting difficult for me to climb stairs.
= The corner of Victoria Road, School Hill corner eyesore! The old school building used for bungalows.
= I would like to move to a smaller property within the village now that my children have left home. Social housing is my only option at present, so I would like to see smaller properties built.
= We already have two association/councils rented housing estates and one nearby (Camp Hill), they tend to attract people who wish not to work and rely on government benefits.
= Housing, bungalow, flat complex for elderly people with shared washing facility and a public room with T.V., for residents to gather with proper management to dispel loneliness.
= I think the village is perfectly balanced with various different houses of all sizes, brought rented and council owned.
= Sheltered accommodation for elderly who wish to have some independence . However, I would not wish to see encroachment on green belt/open space land. There are sites e.g. Michael Drayton Annex which could be developed for elderly/disabled as they are on flat land, close to bus stop and local services.
= Not enough first time buyers i.e. cheaper homes.
= Before any more houses are situated in the Hartshill area would the Council consider the roads and the congestion that exists in the area with the housing we have already as the roads and junctions in this area were not designed for mass housing.
= Smaller, affordable homes for older members of the community. They may be in larger homes which no longer serve their needs or financial circumstances. This would release housing for those with larger families.
= Any further expansion will take away the village feel as we are already merged with Nuneaton who take no responsibility for our needs.
= Village lacks in retirement bungalows and similar properties and those with their own private driveway/garage parking. Too many developers trying to get too many houses on to small a site!!
= Bungalows are scarce along with affordable first time buyer houses as many have been brought to rent. Council or Housing Association have a big part to play but strict controls over residents need to be in place.
= More bungalows for senior citizens
= Our opinion on Housing in Hartshill is – there are not adequate housing for elderly persons i.e. bungalows. Retirement complex such as for couples and single senior citizens. Lots of people in this age bracket have certain disabilities.
= Old peoples bungalows
= Bungalows in quiet area, but with access to amenities for elderly
= Keep traditional, up market and don’t downgrade a lovely village. If anything encourage more elderly to move here. More bungalows would help with this. There is a reason there is not a lot of houses for sale here and it is because it is a nice area with nice people. The last thing you want to do is encourage cheap accommodation, in turn it will attract cheap people with cheap attitudes. You have to work hard to be able to live here.
= I believe that the area already has a fair cross section of terraced, semi and detached housing that would cater for most families. The biggest problem is lack of mortgages to first time buyers.
= More homes for the elderly – e.g. bungalows
= Bungalows for retired and elderly
= Unfortunately these days there is always need for more housing (due a lot to the past governments not controlling immigration!) If the need does arise from more housing (It should not be erected on our lovely surrounding countryside at Hartshill or anywhere) and also housing should be made affordable for young people.
= Too many social housing in the village, not enough for elderly and disabled. Not sure where you propose to build, but we do need to maintain roadways to a suitable standard and provide houses with parking.
= For in the future – Housing for the disabled, easy access and Bungalows.
= I would like to see affordable homes for first time buyers as 2 of my children would like to move towards the area, but as yet have been unable to do so.
= I do not think that Hartshill has a problem with its current housing stock. The problem lies with the current high housing costs and lack of work for people to be able to get on the property ladder.
= Hartshill has a good varied amount of properties at all market levels, all people from Hartshill and other areas should be on the same level with the opportunity to live in Hartshill whether renting or buying.
= There are too many landlord rented accommodation properties where foreigners are living which do not take part or pay in the local Hartshill area. I think Hartshill is a dying area unless something is done.