Housing Strategy

The Council is in the process of updating its main housing strategy action plan. Once complete, the new document will set out the Council's plan of action to meet future housing requirements in the Sevenoaks District and across West Kent. The update is due to be completed in March 2011 and will then be available for comments prior to being put forward for approval as Council policy. The new detailed housing action plan will help to deliver the Council's Sustainable Community Plan, which contains a number of general housing objectives in response to widespread consultation with the local community.

Key priorities of the new housing action plan, will be:

To provide a good mix of decent and affordable homes across all tenures: offering households choice and sustaining communities
To improve the quality and use of existing housing and sustaining neighbourhoods
To meet the needs of vulnerable and lower income households

Housing need

A district level Housing Needs Survey ( PDF File 823KB file details) was completed in 2006 and data was re-weighted for the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) in 2008. New development in the Sevenoaks District

The findings of both of needs assessments will be considered in the new document. The SHMA indicates a continuing increase in the number of older people in the District and out-migration of economically active and younger households.

Stock condition

A stock condition survey was undertaken in 2004. A new stock condition survey is being developed and will be completed during 2010/11. The following information will be updated then.

As at 2004

5.11% private sector stock unfit for habitation. The estimated cost of repairs needed for private sector stock was identified as £141 million up to 2007
Unfit dwellings are more prevalent in the private rented sector and when occupants are elderly, disabled or on low incomes
Inter-war dwellings have an increasing level of disrepair
Registered Social Landlord stock is in better condition due to significant investment since stock transfer in 1989
13% of all dwellings have a SAP (energy efficiency measure) of less than 30, and in the private rented sector 20% have a SAP rating less than 10
Mobile homes are generally in good condition but a minority are in very poor condition.

Please click on the following links for the current full version of the Housing Strategy ( PDF 517K file details) and the full version of its action plan ( PDF 418K file details).

If you have any comments in relation to housing requirements in the Sevenoaks District, please email housing@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Contacting Housing Policy

Write to:

Housing Policy, Sevenoaks District Council
Community and Planning Services Department
PO Box 183
Argyle Road
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN13 1GN

Call 01732 227000

email: housing@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Sevenoaks District Council,
Council Offices,
Argyle Road,
Sevenoaks,
Kent
TN13 1HG

01732 227000