§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of changes in the supply of low-cost homes on the housing situation in West Wiltshire. [18420]
§ Ms KeebleThe Department requires local authorities to carry out robust assessments of local housing need in their areas and to develop housing strategies that address the identified need for affordable housing and also to make effective use of their powers under the planning system to secure an element of affordable housing within new housing developments.
West Wiltshire district council granted planning permission for 51 units of affordable housing in the 2000–01 financial year. These homes will be available for renting through Registered Social Landlords.
§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of(a) the number of new households in West Wiltshire for each of the years from 1995 to 2001 and (b) the number of new households in these years unable to (i) rent and (ii) buy in West Wiltshire. [18421]
§ Ms KeebleThe estimated net increase in the number of households in West Wiltshire in the five years to 1999, the latest date for which data are available, is 1,400 giving an average increase of around 300 households per year. Mid year household estimates for England at local authority level are published annually. Data for 2000 will be published on 29 November and a copy placed in the Library of the House. Uncertainties in these estimates increase with geographical detail and mid year estimates are only published to the nearest thousand.
No information is available on the number of new households in these years unable to buy or rent in West Wiltshire.