City Council consults with local residents
(Date of issue: Tuesday, 21 June 2011)
Time is running out for Carlisle residents who want to take part
in a survey that assesses housing needs and aspirations in
Carlisle.
The survey has been sent to a sample of Carlisle residents and
the cut off date to return completed surveys is this Friday (24
June).
The dynamics of the housing market in Carlisle have changed
dramatically since the last survey was carried out in 2006. Coupled
with market and economic uncertainty, the reduction in lending has
meant that securing mortgages has become a lot harder, especially
for first time buyers who underpin the whole market. Cllr Ray
Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Environment and Housing, said:
“We’re trying to get a picture of the current housing
circumstances, needs and aspirations of residents living in the
district, whether they are looking to move or not. The survey will
help identify what measures need to be taken to help local
residents join and remain in the property market, as well as
assessing the needs of those residents requiring rental
accommodation.”
Questionnaires were sent direct to 10,000 Carlisle households in
early June and residents have been asked to respond to the survey
by Friday, 24 June. Every household that responds to the survey
will be entered into a prize draw with a chance to win £100 in
cash. The questionnaire is anonymous and households have been
selected using a random sample based on their electoral ward.
The survey will provide:
- Estimates of housing need over the next five year, broken down
by area, tenure, type, price and reason, as well as longer-term
projections;
- Information on the housing aspirations of City Council
residents;
- Information on the relationship between local housing markets
and the employment market; and
- Information on those households with specific housing needs,
such as those requiring physical adaptations.
The results will provide invaluable help to the City Council and
its partners. It will inform the City’s forthcoming Housing
Strategy and Local Development Framework plans; set out the demand
for affordable housing in Carlisle; better inform developers on the
type of properties that local residents want and need, and will
back up housing bids with the Homes and Communities Agency in order
to secure funding to develop affordable housing.