HURLEY HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY
Analysis by Paul Roberts
Housing Strategy and Development Officer
North Warwickshire Borough Council
January 2013
ContentsPage No
Summary of Results3
Planning Context4
Survey Results5
Residents Comments (Appendix A)13
Properties for Sale (Appendix B)17
Summary of Results.
679 forms were distributed throughout the village and we received a return rate of 99 forms. This equates to a response rate of 15%
This is the first Housing Needs Survey to be done in Hurley, so we have no other data to compare with from previous Housing Needs Surveys.
Rent / Rent (Adapted property) / Shared Ownership / Low Cost Home Ownership1 bed / 4 / 0 / 0
2 bed / 6 / 3 / 1
3 bed / 2 / 0 / 1
4+ bed / 2 / 1 / 0 / 1
2 bed bungalow / 6 / 2 / 3
Planning Context
Hurley is currently covered by the saved Local Plan 2006 as well as the emerging Core Strategy. Hurley remains a Category 4 settlement which in the Local Plan means that all housing would be affordable. In the Submission version of the Core Strategy it means that 30 houses are expected to be delivered in Hurley up to 2028. Below are extracts from the emerging Core Strategy:
Spatial Strategy for Hurley:
Hurley is a small village, within the Green Belt, set in attractive countryside near to the centre of the Borough. Hurley became a village in 1861 with the opening of the Church of the Resurrection. Local facilities include a village hall, a couple of shops and post office, village school, a small playing field and play area on Brick Kiln Lane. There were a number of mines in the Hurley area, including Dexter Colliery and a significant amount of the social housing in the village was built to accommodate workers at the mines. There are opportunities for infill and redevelopment within the village, but it is tightly constrained by the surrounding Green Belt.
Policy NW1 states:
Category 4:Other Settlements with a development boundary - Ansley, Austrey, Curdworth, Fillongley, Hurley, Newton Regis, Piccadilly, Shuttington, Shustoke, Warton, Whitacre Heath, Wood End
Development will be limited to that identified in this Plan or has been identified through a Neighbourhood or other locality plan. In Green Belt settlements development will not be supported outside the current development boundaries.
Policy NW2 states:
5.Settlements surrounded or washed over by the Green Belt will be able to pursue the Community Right to Build. Housing sites would have to be locally affordable in perpetuity. A community or other use would be required to show how it would remain in community use in perpetuity.
Policy NW4 states:
Category 4:Other Settlements with a development boundary
The following settlements will cater for the following amount of development on sites of no more than 10 units and at any one time unless a Neighbourhood Plan allocates more:
Hurley30
Survey Results
Do you own your own home (with or without a mortgage)?
No 32
Yes66
No answer1
If you rent your home, which of the following do you rent your property from?
Housing Association14
Local Authority4
Private Landlord13
Not applicable 68
Would you like to own your own home, but cannot afford to buy one in Hurley that suits your needs?
No 18
Yes13
Not applicable68
Would you be happy to continue to rent your home or consider moving to another form of rental arrangement?
No3
Yes29
Not applicable67
Are you aware of the range of housing options potentially available for local people?
No47
Yes50
No answer2
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
No22
Yes70
No answer7
Social Rent via a Housing Association
No26
Yes66
No answer7
Open Market Rent
No26
Yes63
No answer10
Intermediate Rent
No48
Yes40
No answer11
Is your home of sufficient size for your present and/or future needs?
No14
Yes84
No answer1
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?
No6
Yes7
No answer86
Do you need to move to smaller accommodation, either now or in the foreseeable future, but are unable to do so because you cannot afford a suitable property?
No72
Yes19
No answer8
Do you have any family or dependents (either living with you or elsewhere) who wish to purchase their own home in Hurley, but cannot afford to buy in the open market?
No75
Yes21
No answer3
Do you know of anyone who works in Hurley, but cannot afford to live in the village?
No93
Yes3
No answer3
To your knowledge have you, or any of those indicated as being unable to afford a suitable home in Hurley, registered this need with North Warwickshire Borough Council
No75
Yes10
No answer14
In your opinion do you think that Hurley suffers from the wrong type of housing provision for local people and their families?
No41
Yes47
No answer11
Do you think that Hurley should have any more of the following accommodation?
Shared Equity/Shared Ownership priced below open market values
No67
Yes32
Social Rented Homes provided by a Housing Association
No57
Yes42
Rented accommodation provided by landlords at open market rent levels.
No88
Yes11
Rented accommodation provided by landlords at rents below market values
No81
Yes18
Homes for Local People
No48
Yes51
First Time Buyers
No44
Yes55
Do you think that Hurley should provide affordable homes for people who do not live, work or have a family connection to the village?
No50
Yes44
No answer5
Appendix A
Comments
More bungalows neededSome houses on the estate owned by a private landlord have gone in such a state there unrepairable and so unfit to live in. In my opinion we also need more old peoples bungalows. Old folk in this village have to wait for some old soul to die before they can get one. I live in Queensway and right behind us there are new houses being built, part rent part buy and that is good for the village
There are empty houses in Hurley, so we don’t need others until they are occupied (renovated)
The houses in Hurley are very small, and not ideal for young families. I'd like to see homes with larger living areas, our living room is too small for my 6 month old daughter to learn to crawl and walk in
The current housing situation in Hurley could be improved if the landlords of the majority of privately rented houses in the village was compelled by legislation, which I believe is available, to bring the empty houses up to standard and rent them out. There are usually between 10-15 houses which are in this category. This action would put more rented houses on the market and improve the appearance of the estate within the village
As Q14 I am sure people could be encouraged to invest in their own property. So more shared probably the answer as in current climate very difficult to get on to the ladder.
First time buyers, old peoples bungalows
Parts of the old coal board estate needs to be renovated and kept tidy. Some of the properties are left boarded up and the residents who live in the nice, tidy properties have to put up with it. The estate needs to improve and provide the houses ready to move into, either rented or to buy
Affordable bungalows
Apart from the school, the surgery and some small industrial units in outlying farms, there is no employment available in Hurley. Residents need to commute to work while lack of public transport is such a problem in Hurley and other similar rural locations. There is no point in providing more low cost and rented housing in the village. Such accommodation is better put in small towns with industry and good transport connections.
Should provide more up market accommodation as opposed to lower end of the market i.e Council and ex mining housing
No further houses are required in Hurley. There already empty houses in the village and not sufficient transport or infrastructure to support more houses. No more houses required
More bungalows for old and disabled or sheltered housing
The private rent house that look a mess stop other houses being sold or rented due to the lack of landlords looking after them
Factual ties
I am in the category of having to rent by myself, no children at home. So at the bottom of the point list. What do you do?
Lack of social housing provided by a reputable housing association or other organisation. There is an aging population in the village and a shortage of suitable accommodation which would free up family homes. Less than half a dozen Council houses in Hurley. The private landlord in Hurley provides a very poor service - poor repairs (when you can get them done!), unqualified workmen, threat of eviction at the drop of a hat for those on shorthold tenancy. I am of the strong opinion that there is a definite need for more and improved social housing in Hurley
The village is lacking the respect of tenants due to 1 landlord in particular Hurley Associates, Donna her name is. She doesn’t to me do proper checks on people she rents her houses out to, we have had drug dealers, thief’s and general trouble causers. Also her houses are unsafe, work not getting done properly and never on time you have to wait weeks for work to be done, and woe betide if you tackle her on such issue or contact Environmental Health. I have known people to be evicted through this plus the houses are an eye sore it would be whole lot better if all Waterloo and the village was back to a more pleasant wanting to live here state like it used to be years ago before Donna took over
I would prefer more 2 bed homes for the OAP (over 60) and more 5 bed homes for much bigger family
I think the village has a good mix of housing - though buying and selling must have slowed down. Most people must work outside of Hurley I would think. I wouldn’t like the size of the village to increase too much - it has a good community feel to it
Hurley has a balance of housing. We are aware of the current plan to build 17 Housing Association houses behind Queensway. We hope that no more housing other than infill will be built or green sites surrounding the current houses. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE HOUSING DEVELOPERS THE GREEN FLAG TO BUILD AROUND OUR VILLAGE
I think the village lacks shared equity housing
Generally the housing in Hurley is on a very mixed cases with old and newer properties throughout. Any new development should reflect this view and concerns with regard to eco-sustainability and landscaping in keeping with a "village" feel would be acceptable
We feel that Hurley is big enough any large housing projects would spoil our village. Road are unable to cope with the large volume of traffic that this would create
There are many unused houses in the village and these should be utilized before any more are built
I do not believe that any new properties need to be built in the village. There are several properties which are boarded up which I feel would be beneficial if the Council or housing association invested money here to provide additional homes. These properties are an eyesore and makes the village look untidy and run down
Seems adequate at it stands
Smaller houses or flats for single people who work near Hurley but cant afford rents for three bed accommodation
Village is lacking 1-2 bedroom bungalows, flats for younger people
Some of the private landlord properties need updating and tidying
Hurley village needs more homes for people with disabilities
With the fifteen new houses being built I think this will address a need for homes available for first time buyers but I think there is still a need for more housing for elderly people so they don’t need to leave the village or parents of residents who might want to move to the village
Too many empty/untidy properties. Need more affordable/elderly accommodation but where?
Current situation is pretty dire, the only homes available are either to expensive (rental) or very poorly maintained run by unscrupulous landlord who's only priority is to collect rent. Only those homes owned by local authority are reasonably priced
I was born in Hurley and find the state of the village an eye sore due to the private landlord. I feel she should be made to sort out the houses that are boarded up. The Council houses are always looked after and repairs done, I feel I speak for all the village people on this subject. I hope in time work will be done as I love living in Hurley and it is a nice village, nice people
I think that this housing estate is disgusting with its empty and vandalised properties. It needs cleaning up and them it would be a village people would come live in
Some houses rented by private landlord are a disgrace
I would like to see more homes for the elderly (bungalow type)
I think the housing is adequate (2/3/4) bedroom houses, but the housing for older people who wish to downsize due to losing their partners or due to ill health, then I think more sheltered accommodation would be a fine thing, this would then allow (2/3/4) houses to come onto the market for married couples with children to get onto the housing market. NB As for the youngsters leaving school without a job and getting themselves pregnant (sometimes several times, by different fathers) then being allocated a house (rent paid by the Council) then having other people living with them, to the detriment of the local council tax, which we all have to contribute to.
As I am suffering with ME I need a bungalow which is not just for over 50-60's. I have a lot of needs that my house does not fulfill. I have two teenage children and the single room is far too small for a teenager. Bungalows for all are needed
I think you need to think about bigger family instead of building 2, 3 or 4 bed homes. Think about the ones that need 5 or more bedroom. I'm one of these families who need a 5 bed, I'm in a 4 bed but not big enough as me and my husband sleep in the living room to give our kids the room they need. I also think that to help people to afford to part buy or own their home. I've heard of a building program where people who want or need a big home or want to do part buy. Where we who want all this need to help build their home. A couple of years ago Bringham Council did this. I would and my family would love to do this. The home would still belong to you, council or a housing association but also give the person a % of the home so it would be a part buy home for people who can't afford to buy
2 bedroom bungalows
Too many houses left empty due to private landlord not investing in her houses. It needs the Council to reclaim these houses from her and to improve the housing in this area. The village is also lacking in good accommodation for old people
We believe that there is not a need for further housing development in Hurley and that current housing mix is well-balanced
As resident in Hurley village I feel attention should be paid to existing houses in the village that are boarded up and left to decay. When this has been done and these properties occupied then we should be looking at further needs that have not been met
More old people bungalows
There is a significant amount of empty properties going to waste because private landlords do not maintain the properties they own. There are very limited opportunities for younger people to purchase properties and equally very little bungalows or smaller properties for the elderly to move into and stay local
I don't believe there is a lack of housing in the village. The problem is a number of the houses are owned by a private landlord who's only interest is taking peoples money and not keeping the houses up to scratch - therefore a number of houses are in a very sorry state and spoiling the rest of the village. I understand that there are more houses being built off Queensway to provide affordable homes, I don't feel that there is a need for more
There are empty houses in Hurley why do you need to build more to bring in more people in affordable housing will increase our need for more facilities. Have you ever tried getting an appointment at the doctors? At present it is 3 weeks, we do not need more housing or more people. This is why we are called a village not a town. There are plenty of fields around the area without having to increase the size of an existing village. More people means more noise, more crime etc. Its only foreign people that seem to be getting the first choice of anything anyway
Many houses are empty and should be made liveable, they make the village look terrible. I do not believe any further housing should be built as this would only spoil the village. More and more housing would mean this was no longer a village. Do not build more houses, tidy up the village, some roads are a disgrace and in desperate need of repair. Some additional parking along Knowle Hill by the post office may be useful. However should be kept to a minimum. There also should be a better bus service, look at what is here before you spoil peoples lives and build more houses.
As manager of the nursery of Hurley I am concerned that I have recently had a child leave due to being in bad rented accommodation, there is no alternative available for them. I also have young adults (daughter 20/boyfried 21) living with us due to not being able to afford rented within the village
In Hurley there are a number of empty houses which are in need of renovation. There is also at least one 'brown' site which I believe is due to be developed. I feel that apart from these any further development within the village is totally unnecessary