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Background
Capel St. Mary Parish Council hosted a drop-in event on 23rd October 2015 to gauge residents' views about the future development of our village. Since then, developers have been progressing with plans to provide further new homes. The Council stated in October that there was a need for a more comprehensive Housing Survey (HNS) to determine the level of need for housing across all tenure types in the Parish.
The survey was distributed to each of 1224 households within the parish boundary in April 2016. The aim was to understand the existing and future housing needs for Capel St. Mary's residents including family members (not necessarily living in Capel St. Mary) and other members of the household. The study was also designed to understand Capel St. Mary's current housing stock and whether this is affordable to local people. The survey used was compiled by Community Action Suffolk and Babergh District Council in agreement with Capel St. Mary Parish Council.
560 completed surveys were returned and this return rate of 46% provided a robust sample snapshot of the parish.
General Information
The most represented group of residents was aged 60-74 years. There were a fairly even number of males and females throughout all age groups, mostly of White British ethnicity, with just 2.7% from ethnic minorities. Three quarters of respondents have lived in Capel St. Mary for 10 or more years and only 5% have lived there for less than 1 year, which indicates that residents are happy with living there, but this offers little opportunity for people to move within Capel St. Mary or for new people to move into Capel St. Mary. The highest response rate was received from those households who owned their own homes with a mortgage followed by those who owned their own homes outright.
The lowest response rate was received from households in Co-Ownership, Local Authority renting, Housing Association rented and ‘other'. No respondents indicated that they owned a second home in Capel. St. Mary.
The most common type of property is a 4-bedroom house followed by a 3-bedroom house. There are very low number of flats and 1 bedroom houses.
Financial Matters
About a third of respondents were happy to answer questions relating to their own financial affairs. Full details may be found in the detailed report but have been omitted from this summary report. However this information is exceptionally useful to Capel Parish Council and Babergh District Council in determining future requirements.
New Additional Housing - Current Residents
Most people were in favour of having homes for couples (1-2 bedrooms) and small family homes (2-3 bedrooms). A quarter of respondents were in favour of homes for single people. People were least open to having new large family (4+ bedrooms) in Capel St. Mary with a mixture of comments received. A total of 15 comments were received opposing any sort of new housing in Capel St. Mary. Respondents were open to new Housing for older people.
A number of suggestions were received regarding potential sites for new homes including land close to the A12 and London Road so that additional traffic would not come through the parish, as well as Days Road/Dove Close. The Wenham Castle Complex was suggested as a redundant building that could be used for housing.
Housing Need in Capel St. Mary - Current Residents
Out of the 560 household responses received,10% of households identified a total of 108 individuals would have a need for housing in the next 5 years. The highest group indicating a need was the 25-44 year olds. Respondents indicated that 18 out of 56 people would need housing in the next 3-5 years with 16 requiring housing now. Couples (without children) accounted for the highest number of those with a housing need followed by single people.
27 individuals needed to move out of the current household to set up their own home or which 88% owned their current property with a mortgage. Second to this, 17 individuals wished to set up a smaller home of which 83% owned their current property outright.
Responses indicated a need for 64 individuals, with 39 individuals wishing to remain in Capel St. Mary with 41% of those wanting to purchase a house. Only 5 individuals were looking for either Sheltered or Very Sheltered Housing in Capel St. Mary.
The majority of respondents indicated they would ideally like 2 bedroom homes followed by 3 bedroom homes with open market houses and bungalows being the most preferred property type.
Housing Needs of Close Family Living Outside of Capel St. Mary Wishing to Return
Out of the 560 household responses received, 35 (6%) households identified a total of 64 members of close family who would have a need for housing in the next 5 years. The biggest group indicating a need is the 25-44 years. Respondents identified 22 close family members have a need for housing in Capel St. Mary now with another 15 requiring housing in Capel St. Mary within 1-2 years.
Couples (without children) account for the highest make up of future households of those in need followed by two parent families and single people.
12 individuals wished to move into Capel St. Mary to set up their own homes with 11 needing to move for health/mobility reasons. The preferred option for those looking to move into Capel St. Mary is to purchase an open market house followed by purchasing an open market bungalow.
55% of those looking to move into Capel St. Mary were employed or self-employed which indicates that they would be able to make a contribution towards a mortgage or rent. 33% are retired.
Summary
The Capel St. Mary Housing Survey 2016 achieved a 46% return rate, with the majority of respondents in favour of housing development comprising of small to medium homes for people with local connections. Out of 560 surveys returned, 56 households responded that the current households have identified a need totalling 108 people. The majority of people would prefer a 2 or 3-bedroom house or bungalow to purchase on the open market to set up their own homes.
Out of 560 surveys returned, 35 of those households responded identifying a need for 64 close family members (people with a local connection) wishing to live in or return to Capel St. Mary. Responses indicated a preference for 2 and 3 bedroom properties to purchase on the open market to for those in need to set up their own homes.
This shows a total of 91 households, 172 people in need of housing in Capel St. Mary.