16 March 2010The Council's Housing Strategy is the main document which sets out how the Council and its partners deal with housing matters and meet the objectives set out in the District's Community Plan.
This Strategy is currently being updated by a steering group and should be ready by the summer of 2010.
The revised Strategy will include the studies and findings of the Local Development Framework process, which is key to delivery of affordable housing. In addition, the housing stock condition survey will be completed by 2010 and this and the Strategic Housing Market Assessment will add a wider dimension to the housing perspective. The new Housing Strategy draft will be presented to all the relevant partners at a Housing Forum early in 2010.
All comments and suggestions will be considered and where possible will be included in the final document. It is hoped that the Strategy will become Council policy in the spring of 2010 once District Councillors have had an opportunity to approve it.
The current Housing Strategy has been assessed by the Government Office for the South East as 'Fit for Purpose', the highest grade possible.
The Housing Strategy in context
Strategy development
District profile
Housing need
Stock condition
Resources for housing
Priorities for action
Useful contacts
Contacting the Housing Policy Officer
The Housing Strategy in context
The Housing Strategy is developed in relation to relevant national, regional and local policies and other related strategic documents. The main policies and strategies linked to the Housing Strategy are summarised as follows:
We place great importance on the involvement of residents in defining our housing priorities. Consultation methods include:
Sevenoaks District is located in West Kent within the Metropolitan Green Belt, and has an estimated population of 113,700 with 47,000 dwellings. The black and minority ethnic population was 1.3% at the last census.
The District contains the three main towns of Sevenoaks, Swanley, and Edenbridge together with New Ash Green and Hartley and over 30 other rural settlements.
The District is generally affluent, but pockets of housing deprivation exist in the wards of Swanley St Mary's, Dunton Green, Swanley White Oak and Leigh.
Dwellings are mainly detached houses with relatively low density.
Owner occupation accounts for 76% dwellings, social rented 14%, private rented 7% and other (including tied accommodation) 3%. The Council has transferred its housing stock to West Kent Housing Association.
The District house price average (as identified by the 2008 Strategic Market Assessment) is as follows:
Quarter 1 2008
Area |
Detached |
Semi Detached | Flat / Maisonette | Terraced | All Types |
Sevenoaks |
724,884 |
334,991 |
213,447 |
237,583 |
401,403 |
West Kent |
572,543 |
288,468 |
228,769 |
210,104 |
328,673 |
Kent |
392,785 |
225,783 |
188,248 |
155,369 |
233,905 |
Sout East |
452,795 |
249,918 |
206,767 |
169,248 |
263,740 |
England & Wales |
342,794 |
197,416 |
173,858 |
200,344 |
218,112 |
Private sector rents range from £895 to £1,043 per week for a three bed semi detached house.
Affordability of accommodation has been highlighted as a recruitment and retention issue by local employers in the public and private sectors.
A Housing Needs Survey (
PDF File 823KB file details) was completed in 2006 and a recent Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) in 2008.
The findings of both of needs assessments will be included in the 2010 Housing Strategy. The SHMA indicates a continuing increase in the number of older people in the District which includes those intending to move back to live with relatives.
The Council accepted a duty towards 100 homeless households in 2008/09, mostly due to relatives and friends being unwilling to continue to accommodate them. The Council was fortunate to obtain Department and Local Government funding in 2009 for two years ,after a successful Trailblazer/Kickstart funding bid. This has enabled the highly successful HERO scheme to be enabled through a predominantly outreach service using local Benefit surgeries. The HERO Officer also works with West Kent Housing Association tenants and settled gypsy/travellers (highest BME group in the district). See “finding a place to live” for more information. The aim is to empower residents to plan their own housing and careers and ultimately reduce homelessness, unemployment and welfare benefit dependency.
There were 1,014 applicants on the Sevenoaks District Housing Register at March 2009. The SHMA identified a need for 646 social rented homes per annum to meet housing need in the District. A Choice Based Lettings scheme called Kent Homechoice was introduced October 2008 and this has been very successful. To support it and to ensure vulnerable people are not disadvantaged there is a Kent wide Vulnerable persons strategy. Older and vulnerable people are supported in the process.
Where parish needs surveys have been carried out significant rural housing needs have been revealed and we are working closely with the Parish Councils to deliver rural schemes.
A special needs housing research project was undertaken along with a recent review of sheltered stock by West Kent Housing Association. Relevant findings of this review will be included in the new Housing Strategy. A sub regional older persons accommodation review is also underway with Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Councils.
The largest Housing PFI (Private finance Initiative) scheme has been undertaken Kent wide. The Council has as a result in 2009 received 20 units of enhanced sheltered accommodation in Wilmington which is very close to Hextable and Swanley. The scheme is considered excellent practice.
The Council is part of the Supporting People (SP) Core Strategy Development group and has maximised SP funding for supported accommodation and services such as floating support.
A stock condition survey was undertaken in 2004. A new stock condition survey is being developed and will be completed Summer 2010. The following information will be updated then.
As at 2004
Land for new housing development is generally within existing built up areas and on previously developed sites. 
Sevenoaks is on target to exceed the Kent Structure Plan requirements for new housing of 165 new homes per annum. The district Council's current target for the deliver of new affordable housing is 67 per annum (for the period 2008/09 to 2010/11). This amouunts to just over 40% of the total annual delivery target set for the district in the South East Plan.
The following table sets out the provision of new affordable housing in the District over the last 5-years. Note: the current target of 67 was agreed in 2008.
Year |
Social rented |
Shared ownership | Intermediate rented | Total |
2008/09 |
7 |
42 |
8 |
57 |
2007/08 |
30 |
31 |
0 |
61 |
2006/07 |
4 |
15 |
0 |
19 |
2005/06 |
70 |
71 |
0 |
141 |
2004/05 |
53 |
15 |
0 |
68 |
There are limited opportunities to deliver new affordable housing due to the following constraints:
The District Council continues to use other housing solutions to meet affordable housing need, including:
The Council continues to investigate alternative sources of investment such as the Private Finance Initiative and European funds. The Council has successfully obtained funding from the Single Regeneration Budget in the past. Council revenue funding is available to provide temporary accommodation for homeless households and housing advice services.
The Council places great importance on partnership working to maximise the resources for housing and achieve the best value for money. Key partners for delivering the Council's housing priorities include neighbouring local authorities and Kent County Council, housing associations (also known as Registered Social Landlords, including West Kent Housing Association and Moat Housing Group), the Local Strategic Partnership, and the Community Legal Partnership.
The Council has carried out research into housing issues in the district and consulted with stakeholders when developing and prioritising the following aims:
Action the Council is taking to address these priorities is detailed in the full Housing Strategy document.
For more information, please click on the following links for the 2003-2009 full version of the Housing Strategy ( PDF 517K file details) and the full version of its action plan ( PDF 418K file details). Please remember that the new and updated version will be available Summer 2010 and the web pages will be updated accordingly.
If you would like to contact us about one of the topics mentioned please call the Council on 01732 227000 or email as follows:
Contacting the Housing Policy Officer
Write to:
Housing Policy Officer
Sevenoaks District Council
Community and Planning Services Department
PO Box 183
Argyle Road
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN13 1GN
Call 01732 227000
e-mail: housing.policy@sevenoaks.gov.uk
