MAP Housing Availability and Need

Sub-section 1: Housing Availability and Need

Q1 Currently available housing

a.What types of properties are there? Look at type, size and tenure (freehold, leasehold, rented).

b.Where are they located? For example, are they clustered in the town centre, town edge or hinterland settlements?

c.Is there an under- or over-supply of housing of different types?

(Worksheets EN1; EN2; EN3 Q4; EC6 Q1; EC6 Q18 also refer to the built environment)

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Q 2 New housing

a.How much new housing is being planned in the area?

b.What type is it?

c.Where is it?

(Worksheets EN1 Q7,14; EN3 Q4; EC6 Q1,8,9; T1 Q3 also refer to development)

Further housing being built at Kings Hill: 750 houses are being built at Leybourne and 1000 houses in Snodland. Some of this is planned as social housing, key worker housing. Additionally the local plan review may make land available for social housing in West Malling itself

Q 3 Housing costs:

a.What is the cost of buying or renting property?

b.Can local people afford to buy houses in the area?

c.Where is there a supply of affordable (social) housing at below-market prices?

d.Where is there a supply of starter homes?

e.Does supply meet local needs based on current statistics?

Data supplied from local Estate Agent in West Malling gave an average price of £257,417 as of October / December 2005. Most rented accommodation is housing association stock and at affordable prices. There is some concern about a lack of affordable housing, but there are key worker (part ownership) houses available and being built – nearly 1000 by 2011. The provision of further houses in the current climate suggests that prices will be lower for the new build.

Q 4 Homeless people:

a.How many people are homeless in the area?

b.How many of these are formally counted as homeless by local authorities compared with those that may be staying with friends and are without a home of their own?

c.How does this compare with regional and national averages?

There are few homeless people in the Borough – 200 or less than ½%; Russet Homes have redeveloped temporary accommodation in East Malling. Provision has been made for young people, use of private rented housing, advice to people at risk of homelessness.

Q 5 Housing priorities:

a.Does the local council give local people priority in accessing affordable housing?

b.What provision is there for people who may want to move back to their local area following time away to train or study?

c.Does this differ in settlements in the surrounding countryside and in the town?

(Worksheets EC2 Q18; T2 Q11,12; T3 Q16 also refer to local government services)

Priority is given to local people, Homebuy (Moat Housing) is working with housing associations to build shared ownership housing and provision is made for key workers

Q 6 Supported housing:

a.What supported housing is available to those who need it through special units (for example, for the elderly or disabled)?

b.Does this meet current or projected demands?

(Worksheets EC7 Q8T2 Q4,5; T3 also refer to disability issues)

The area has slightly less elderly people than average for the UK and this is not due to change. The Borough Housing Strategy reports that supply of sheltered accommodation is adequate, although it is building additional provision for people with mental health needs in Tonbridge to fill a gap.

Q 7 Housing for older people:

a.Does the housing provision and cost provide for older people who may want to move to smaller/more manageable homes or from villages to market towns?

b.Is this provision sufficient?

There is adequate supply of accommodation for the elderly, additionally the Borough provides support to 300 households a year to improve, repair or adapt homes to cope with disability. 87 homes a year are adapted for elderly and disabled households.

Q 8 Housing for elderly/disabled people:

a.What support is provided for people such as the elderly or disabled in their own homes?

b.Does this meet current or projected demand?

(Worksheets EC7 Q8T2 Q4,5; T3 also refer to disability issues)

See above

Q 9 Availability of homes:

a.Are there a high number of homes not available to the local population?

b.Is there a high level of second home ownership or holiday lets locally?

c.Are these confined to particular parts of the area? (For example, those attractive to tourists or near business centres, etc)?

a.No b.No – the area attracts younger working people rather than second home owners.

Q 10 Empty houses:

a.Is there a high level of vacancy or empty houses?

b.Where are these located?

c.Are there opportunities to make redundant housing and additional homes available to local people?

d.What opportunities are there to bring housing into the town centre (for example, flats over shops) back into use?

(compare number of vacant houses with total number of premises)

(Worksheets EN1; EN2; EN3 Q4; EC6 Q1; EC6 Q18 also refer to the built environment. Worksheets EN1 Q7,14; EN3 Q4; EC6 Q1,8,9; T1 Q3 also refer to development)

Generally houses in the area are occupied. The Borough is working with Russet Housing to refurbish parts of East Malling to make it more attractive for local people. Most retail shops have residential accommodation above.