Housing, Homelessness and Benefits Strategy - Basingstoke and ...

Return to ContentsPriority A - Meeting Local NeedsAccess to a suitable home is fundamental to quality of life and asuccessful local economy.Assessments of housing needsThe strategy is informed by a body of evidence that includes surveysof the housing stock, both public and private, and analysis of theborough’s housing market and its interaction with neighbouring areas.In 2007, the Council joined four other Hampshire local authorities tocommission a Strategic Housing Market Assessment (HMA). TheHMA informs both the Housing Strategy and the Local DevelopmentFramework and covers the whole of Central Hampshire and the NewForest, providing a statistical summary of current and future needsas well as an analysis of what drives the housing market. A full copyof the HMA as well as a summary specific to Basingstoke andDeane can be viewed at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/housing/sps/Housing+Market+Assessment+(HMA).htmThe Council was concerned about some limitations of the HMAand as a result requested that the information be supplementedby additional, locally available information. This strategy is thereforebased on the most up to date information available to the Council.In addition to the HMA, a viability study has been commissioned,which analyses the affect of different affordable housingplanning requirements on the profitability of development sitesin Basingstoke and Deane, Winchester and East Hampshire.The study is in its final stages, and the results will help to informaffordable housing planning policy.Meetinglocal needsIncreasing / maximising supply of affordablehousing of mixed tenures and sizesOver the past three years, the council has consistently exceededits targets for delivery of new build affordable housing. In 2006/07,30