HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY REPORT
StorringtonParish
HorshamDISTRICT
Survey undertaken in
October 2012
Action in rural Sussex
1
© Action in rural Sussex
Contents
1Introduction
1.1Context to the Housing Needs Survey
1.2Rural Affordable Housing
1.3Methodology
1.4Response rate
2The Parish of Storrington
2.1Housing type in Storrington
2.2Housing Tenure in the Parish
3Local Income Levels and Affordability
3.1.1Property Prices in the District
3.1.2Property prices in the Parish
4Survey - Part 1: Views on Affordable Housing
4.1Current Housing Tenure
4.2Housing Type
4.3Number of bedrooms
4.4Adaptations
4.5Local connection
4.6Support for Affordable Housing
4.7Support for Open Market Housing
4.8Types of Open Market Housing that should be considered
4.9Does any family member need to move now or in the next 5 years?
4.10Support for self-build
4.11Summary
5Survey Part 2 Results – Affordable Housing Need
5.1Residence and Local Connection
5.2Length of residence
5.3When accommodation is required
5.4Current tenure of households in need
5.5Housing Register
5.6Reasons for moving
5.7Accommodation requirements
5.8Preferred tenure
5.9Housing Type
5.10Affordability
6Summary of Affordable Housing Need
6.1Household composition
7Market Housing Responses
7.1Residence and Local Connection
7.2Length of residence
7.3When accommodation is required
7.4Current tenure of households in need
7.5Housing Register
7.6Reasons for moving
7.7Accommodation requirements
7.8Preferred tenure
7.9Housing Type
7.10Affordability
8Summary of Market Housing Need
8.1Household composition
List of Figures and Tables
Figure 1 - Housing Type Breakdown
Figure 2 – Housing Tenure Breakdown
Figure 3 - Current housing tenure of respondents
Figure 4 - Current housing type of respondents
Figure 5 - Support for an affordable housing development
Figure 6 - Support for open market housing
Figure 7 - Types of open market housing to be considered
Figure 8 - Likely timeframe in which respondents would need to move
Figure 9 - Current tenure of households in need
Figure 10 - Preferred accommodation type
Figure 11 - Annual Incomes of Households in Housing Need with a local connection
Figure 12 - Savings of Households in Housing Need with a local connection
Figure 13 - Composition of households in need
Figure 14 - Likely timeframe in which respondents would need to move
Figure 15 - Current tenure of households in need
Figure 16 - Preferred accommodation type
Figure 17 - Annual Incomes of Households in Housing Need with a local connection
Figure 18 - Savings of Households in Housing Need with a local connection
Figure 19 - Composition of households in need
Table 1 - Housing Type comparison between the District and the Parish
Table 2 - Housing Tenure in the UK, the District and the Parish
Table 3 - Average House Prices in the District (by type)
Table 4 - Lowest current property prices
Table 5 - Lowest current property rental prices
Table 6 - Number of bedrooms in respondent’s households
Table 7 – Households moving for affordable housing
Table 8 - Households moving for open market housing
Table 9 - Support for self-build options
Table 10 - Length of residence
Table 11 - Reasons for needing to move house
Table 12 - Breakdown of households in need
Table 13 - Length of residence
Table 14 - Reasons for needing to move house
Table 15 - Breakdown of households in need
1Introduction
1.1Context to the Housing Needs Survey
Action in rural Sussex as the Rural Housing Enabler for Sussexwas asked by Storrington Parish Councilto undertake a Housing Needs Survey of the Parish in the autumn of 2012.
The aim of the survey was to determine the existing and future housing needs of residents,particularly those on low or modest incomes. This report provides a snapshot of the scale and nature of the affordable housing required by local people inStorrington.
1.2Rural Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is housing made available either for rent or on a shared ownership basis (i.e. part purchase/part rent). It is built and provided only where these isa clear evidence of need, to those otherwise unable to afford appropriate housing at market prices.
The main mechanism for providing affordable housing in rural areas is via Exception Sites policy. This allows rural sites to be identified and used solely for the provision of affordable housing in locations which would not normally be used for housing due to policies restricting such development.
Rural ‘Exception Sites’ as they are commonly called provide for affordable housing in perpetuity. Planning conditions and legal agreements are used to restrict the occupation of these properties to people falling within categories of need and who can prove a local connection through family, residence or work.
The role of the Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) is to provide independent support, advice and information to Parish Councils and community groups concerned about the lack of affordable housing in their rural communities. Action in rural Sussexprovides a Rural Housing Enabling service in both East and West Sussex.
Action in rural Sussex (AirS) is a registered charity (No.1035401) whose purpose is to improve the quality of life of local communities, particularly for disadvantaged people, and to facilitate the development of thriving, diverse and sustainable communities throughout rural Sussex.
1.3Methodology
The primary mechanism for gauging the level of need for affordable housing in rural areas is by undertaking a Parish Housing Needs Survey. This involves surveying all households within the Parish in order to obtain information which can be used to assess the scale and nature of the need locally.
The Housing Needs Survey consists of two main parts:
- The first part is for all households to complete. It contains questions used to identify those who believe they have a housing need and asks them to provide information to support this. It also asks respondents whether they support the concept of constructing a small affordable housing development in the community and if so, where.
- Part 2 of the survey form contains questions used to capture information on the specific household circumstances and housing requirements of respondents. This section is to be completed by those households who currently are, or expect to be, in need of affordable or more appropriate housing.
The survey was delivered by post to 3,571 households in the parish using the Electoral Roll/Council Tax Register. The survey pack delivered consisted of a covering letter from the Parish Council outlining the purpose of the survey, the survey form itself and a postage paid self-addressed envelope which households could use to return the survey form. The closing date for the survey was 6th November 2012.
1.4Response rate
Overall3,260questionnaires were sent out; one to each household in the parish. A total of 1,151survey forms were returned. This gives the Housing Needs Survey a response rate of 35.31%.
17 households identified that their property was not their main home and were subsequently excluded from the number available for analysis. The total for analysis was therefore 1,134households.
2The Parish of Storrington
The Parish of Storrington& Sullington is located in the southern portion of HorshamDistrict in West Sussex and is found between Worthing (to the east) and Chichester(to the west). The town of Storrington sits astride both the River Horsham, (where historically it provided the lowest bridging point) and the main A27 road which runs east to west right through the town.
According to the Census, the population of the parish was 6,074persons in 2001.
The town is particularly famous for both its historic cathedral and castle, both of which provide a key local landmark.
The parish contains a wide range of facilities and services such as churches, shops and schools. Major centres of employment such as Chichester and Brighton are both within commuting distance by road and rail. These locations are also centres for additional shops and services.
2.1Housing type in Storrington
Figure 1provides a breakdown of the existing structure of the housing stock in Storrington Parish (as at the last Census - 2001).
The data shows that in 2001 the greatest proportion of properties in the parish were detached properties. These made up 45.63% of the housing at this time, with a smaller proportion of36.66% of proprieties being semi-detached/terraced properties or bungalows and 17.05% being flats/maisonettes. 2nd homesmade up 0.66%of the housing stock.
Figure 1 - Housing Type Breakdown
As Table 1 shows, Storrington has a comparable proportion of detached housing (45.63%) compared to the rest of Horsham District (41%), but it has lower proportion of semi-detached/terraced housing and bungalows (36.66% compared to 45%)than Horsham District as a whole and a marginally higher proportion of flats/maisonettes (17.05% compared to 13.05%). The proportion of second homes in the Parish is very similar the average for the District.
Table 1 - Housing Type comparison between the District and the Parish
Housing Type / District / ParishDetached / 20,633 (41%) / 1,322 (45.63%)
Semi-detached / Terraced/Bungalows / 22,792 (45%) / 1,062 (36.66%)
Flat / Maisonette / 6,164 (13.5%) / 494 (17.05%)
Second Homes / 263 (0.5%) / 19 (0.66%)
(Source: Census 2001)
2.2Housing Tenure in the Parish
From the 2001 Census data and as seen in Table 2,the predominant tenure inStorringtonparish is owner-occupied housing (75.1%), with rates slightly lower than the rest of Horsham District (80%) but slightly higher than the rest of the UK (70%).
The parish has lower levels of public sector (Housing Association and Local Authority) rental housing than the rest of the UK but slightly higher levels than the rest of Horsham District(17.7% compared to 11.5%). However, the level of public sector rentable properties (7.2%) is lower than both that of the UK (10%) and that of the remainder of Horsham District (8.5%)
Table 2 - Housing Tenure in the UK, the District and the Parish
Tenure / UK / District / ParishOwner occupied / 70% / 80% / 75.1%
Housing Association / Council rent / 19% / 11.5% / 17.7%
Private rent / 10% / 8.5% / 7.2%
(Source: Census 2001)
Figure 2 – Housing Tenure Breakdown
3Local Income Levels and Affordability
3.1.1Property Prices in the District
The tablebelow shows the Land Registry’s average selling price for different types of open-market housing in the District betweenJuly and September 2012.
From these figures the income required to purchase each type of property has been provided. This is calculated on the basis of a securing a 90% mortgage with a 3.5xgross income lending ratio. From this it can be seen that the lowest income required to purchase an average price flat in the District would be £42,283.
Table3 - Average House Prices in the District (by type)
Housing Type / Average Price / Income RequiredAll Housing / £325,142 / £83,607
Detached / £471,000 / £121,114
Semi-Detached / £284,288 / £73,102
Terraced / £230,939 / £59,384
Flat / £164,436 / £42,283
Source: Land Registry (2012)
These figures provide an overview of the current status of house prices across the District (based on sale prices). It should be noted that house prices may fluctuate at various times of year and between different geographical areas.
House prices in rural areas are also likely to be higher than the District-wide averages outlined above, largely due to the limited supply of property available for sale and the higher than average size of such housing stock.
3.1.2Property prices in the Parish
A property search on was also carried out to provide an indication of current prices of properties available in Storrington. Table 4 shows the lowest prices for open market properties on sale in Storringtonand Table 5 shows the lowest prices for properties available to rent in the same area. The rental values for income required are based on monthly rents notexceeding 25% of an individual or households gross income.
From this search undertaken in January2013, the household income required to afford to purchase an entry level home was £30,857 for a one bedroom flat.
Table4 - Lowest current property prices
Property Type / Location / Lowest Price / Income Required1 bed flat / Storrington / £120,000 / £30,857
2 bed flat / Storrington / £115,000 / £29,571
2 bed terraced house / Storrington / £155,000 / £39,857
3 bedterraced house / Storrington / £189,950 / £48,844
3 bed semi-detached house / Storrington / £199,950 / £51,415
4 bedterraced house / Storrington / £265,000 / £68,142
From this search undertaken in January 2013 and based on current property prices, the household income required to afford to rent an entry level home was £28,560 for a one bedroom flat.
Table 5 - Lowest current property rental prices
Property Type / Location / Lowest Price / Income required(@25% gross income)
1 bed flat / Storrington / £595pcm / £28,560
2 bed terraced house / Storrington / £650pcm / £31,200
2 bed semi-detached house / Storrington / £825pcm / £39,600
3 bed terraced house / Storrington / £895pcm / £42,960
4 bed semi-detachedhouse / Storrington / £1,200pcm / £57,600
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© Action in rural Sussex
4Survey - Part 1: Views on Affordable Housing
4.1Current Housing Tenure
The vast majority of those completing the survey (98.38%) identified their current home as their main home, with 1.62% identifying it as a second home.
Of those in their main home, the greatest proportion (53.88%) owned their current home outright with no mortgage, with 25.04% owning it with the use of a mortgage. Of the remaining respondents: 10.67% rented from a Housing Association, 5.20% rented privately, 1.41% rented from a Local Authority, 0.44% live in tied accommodation,0.26% live with parents and 1.32% provided ‘other’ responses. 1.76% of respondents did not complete the question.
Figure 3 - Current housing tenure of respondents
4.2Housing Type
Approximately three-quarters of respondents (64.73%) identified that they currently live in a house, with 20.02% living in a bungalow and 9.35% living in a flat. Only 1.94% lived in sheltered/retirement housing (private sector) or in ‘other’ properties, whilst 1.15% lived in sheltered/retirement housing (public sector). A further 0.62% of respondents lived in a caravan/mobile home/temporary structure and ‘Other’ answers were provided by 0.62% of respondents. A total of 1.32% of respondents did not complete the question.
Figure 4 - Current housing type of respondents
4.3Number of bedrooms
Households with 3 bedrooms represented the most common size of dwelling amongst those responding to the survey, making up 37.13% of responding households. The next most numerous responses were for: 4 or more bedrooms (28.92%);2 bedrooms (24.96%) and 1 bedroom (7.58%). A total of 1.41% of respondents did not complete the question.
Table 6 - Number of bedrooms in respondent’s households
Number of bedrooms / Number of responses1 / 86 (7.58%)
2 / 283 (24.96%)
3 / 421 (37.13%)
4 or more / 328 (28.92%)
No response / 16 (1.41%)
4.4Adaptations
49respondents (4.32%) identified that their current home required adaptations in order to become suitable for the needs of a household member. 1,048respondents (92.42%) said that their current home did not require any adaptations, whilst 37 respondents did not complete the question (3.26%).
A total of 64 respondents (5.64%) identified that if their current home required adaptations to become suitable for the needs of a household member that they would need financial assistance to undertake such changes. Whilst 315 (27.78%) indicated they would not require financial assistance and 755 (66.58%) provided no response to the question.
4.5Local connection
Of the 1,094 respondents to the question, 1,086 currently live in the village (99.27%), 124 work in the village (11.33%), 224 have relatives in the village (20.48%) and 61 have previously lived in the village (3.97%).Please note that each respondent may have provided more than one connection with the Parish.
4.6Support for Affordable Housing
Of the respondents to the survey,749 (66.05%) were in favour of a small affordable housing development for local people in Storrington if there was a proven need. As seen in Figure 4, 320 respondents (28.22%) said that they would not support an affordable housingdevelopment and the remaining 65 respondents did not answer the question (5.73%).
Figure 5 - Support for an affordable housing development
4.7Support for Open Market Housing
Of the respondents to the survey,357 (31.48%) were in favour of other kinds of housing being made availablefor housing development in Storrington if there was a proven need. As seen in Figure 6, 592 respondents (52.20%) said that they would not support a market housingdevelopment and the remaining 185 respondents did not answer the question (16.31%).
Figure 6 - Support for open market housing
4.8Types of Open Market Housing that should be considered
Irrespective of whether respondents supported the construction of additional open-market housing in Storrington, they were asked what types of open market housing should be considered were some to be constructed. The most commonly identified style of housing which respondents felt should be considered was semi-detached housing which was identified by 230 respondents (20.83% of those responding to the question). The commonly identified size of property to be considered were those with 2/3 bedrooms, these were identified by 310 respondents (28.08% of those responding to the question).
Figure 7 - Types of open market housing to be considered
4.9Does any family member need to move now or in the next 5 years?
From Table 7, it can be seen that a total of 144 respondents said that a household member will need to move in pursuit of affordable housing.103 said it was needed within 5 years (9.08% of all respondents) and 41 said they needed to move in 5 or more years (3.62% of all respondents).
Table 7 – Households moving for affordable housing
Does the household need to move / Number of householdsYes, within 5 years / 103 (9.08%)
Yes, in 5 or more years / 41 (3.62%)
No / 720 (63.49%)
No Response / 270 (23.81%)
TOTAL / 1,134
As shown in Table 8, it can be seen that a total of 89 respondents said that a household member will need to move in pursuit of open market housing. Of these, 48 said it was needed within 5 years (4.23% of all respondents) and 41 said they needed to move in 5 or more years (3.62% of all respondents).
Table 8 - Households moving for open market housing
Does the household need to move / Number of householdsYes, within 5 years / 48 (4.23%)
Yes, in 5 or more years / 41 (3.62%)
No / 580 (51.15%)
No Response / 465 (41.01%)
TOTAL / 1,134
4.10Support for self-build
A total of 110 households (9.70%) identified that they would be interested in building their own homeif land was made available in the parish. 73.28% identified that they would not be interested in building their own home whilst 7.50% were not sure and 9.52% did not answer the question.
Table 9 - Support for self-build options
Interested in building own home / Number of householdsYes / 110 (9.70%)
No / 831 (73.28%)
Not sure / 85 (7.50%)
No Response / 108 (9.52%)
TOTAL / 1,134
4.11Summary
The trends outlined in the sections above illustrate that:
- 98.38% of respondents currently have their main home in the parish.
- 53.88% of respondents currently own their own home with no mortgage.
- 64.73% of respondents currently live in a house.
- The most common size of residence currently occupied by respondents has 3 bedrooms (47.13%).
- 4.32% of respondents identified that their current home required adaptations in order for them to remain living in it.
- Of respondents completing the question: 99.27% currently live in the village,11.33% work in the village, 20.48% have relatives in the village and 3.97% have previously lived in the village
- 66.05% of respondents would support an affordable housing development for local people if there were a proven need.
- 31.48% of respondents would support the development of other housing within the parish. The most commonly supported forms of such housing would be semi-detached housing with 2/3 bedrooms.
- 12.70% of respondents knew of a household that would need to leave the parish in pursuit of affordable housing.
- 9.85% of respondents knew of a household that would need to leave the parish in pursuit of open-market housing.
- 9.70% of respondents identified that they would participate in the construction of their own home if the land were made available in the parish.
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© Action in rural Sussex
5Survey Part 2 Results – Affordable Housing Need
Part 2 of the survey was only completed by those respondents who indicated that their current home was unsuitable for their household’s needs.