As promised, in the recent update leaflet delivered to all households, the next stage of consultation is underway.
Two surveys are being delivered – a yellow household consultation and a white housing needs survey. All households are invited to complete the yellow survey, and only those interested in affordable housing should complete the white survey. There are instructions on the surveys explaining where to return them to. In both cases, they should be completed by early December.
If a high response rate can be achieved, i.e. the percentage of households returning the survey compared to the total number of households receiving questionnaires, it will greatly help in the development of the plan that is due for completion in 2024. Your opinions are important and valued and will help to influence the future of the Parish.
If you need any assistance with completing the surveys, please email us.
Clarification on the Housing Needs Survey:
The focus of the white DCT housing needs survey is on affordable housing as the need for it is currently not understood by local authorities. There is a crossover between affordable housing and housing need. There are many households who are in a position whereby they don’t consider themselves as needing affordable housing options, for example, those who fully own their own property. However, people should consider if their situation is likely to change, or could change in the coming years. Growing families can cause a situation whereby a larger house is required and therefore incur extra cost. It is also the case that residents who find themselves needing to downsize or seek adapted properties (suitable for their needs) can find that such properties, often smaller, are more expensive than they thought or simply unaffordable. Although the cover page of the form states that “part 1 is for everyone to complete”, this only applies if the household decides to complete the form and actually means every individual in the household, not everyone who has received a survey as they have been distributed parish-wide to give everyone the opportunity to input.