Guidance: Housing and economic needs assessment
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Guides councils in how to assess their housing needs. Published 20
March 2015 Last updated 22 July 2019 — see all updates
From: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
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Guides councils in how to assess their housing needs.
Published 20 March 2015
Last updated 22 July 2019 — see all updates ContentsWhere plans are being prepared under the transitional arrangements set out in Annex 1 to the revised National Planning Policy Framework, the policies in the previous version of the framework published in 2012 will continue to apply, as will any previous guidance which was associated with it, and which has been superseded since the new framework was published in July 2018. See superseded guidancerelevant to plans that were submitted under transitional arrangements This guidance was updated on 20 February 2019. See previous guidance Housing needWhat is housing need?Housing need is an unconstrained assessment of the number of homes needed in an area. Assessing housing need is the first step in the process of deciding how many homes need to be planned for. It should be undertaken separately from assessing land availability, establishing a housing requirement figure and preparing policies to address this such as site allocations. For further details on how constraints should be considered once a housing need figure has been identified, please see Housing and economic land availability assessment guidance. Paragraph: 001 Reference ID: 2a-001-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 What is the standard method for assessing local housing need?The National Planning Policy Framework expects strategic policy-making authorities to follow the standard method in this guidance for assessing local housing need. The standard method uses a formula to identify the minimum number of homes expected to be planned for, in a way which addresses projected household growth and historic under-supply. The standard method set out below identifies a minimum annual housing need figure. It does not produce a housing requirement figure. Paragraph: 002 Reference ID: 2a-002-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 Is the use of the standard method for strategic policy making purposes mandatory?No, if it is felt that circumstances warrant an alternative approach but authorities can expect this to be scrutinised more closely at examination. There is an expectation that the standard method will be used and that any other method will be used only in exceptional circumstances. Paragraph: 003 Reference ID: 2a-003-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How is a minimum annual local housing need figure calculated using the standard method?The standard method can be used to calculate a minimum annual local housing need figure as follows: Step 1 - Setting the baselineSet the baseline using national household growth projections (2014-based household projections in England, table 406 unitary authorities and districts in England) for the area of the local authority. Using these projections, calculate the projected average annual household growth over a 10 year period (this should be 10 consecutive years, with the current year being used as the starting point from which to calculate growth over that period). Note that the figures displayed are rounded and individual cells need to be viewed in order to see the full number. Step 2 - An adjustment to take account of affordabilityThen adjust the average annual projected household growth figure (as calculated in step 1) based on the affordability of the area. The most recent median workplace-based affordability ratios, published by the Office for National Statistics at a local authority level, should be used. No adjustment is applied where the ratio is 4 or below. For each 1% the ratio is above 4 (with a ratio of 8 representing a 100% increase), the average household growth should be increased by a quarter of a percent. To be able to apply the percentage increase adjustment to the projected growth figure we then need to add 1. Where an adjustment is to be made, the precise formula is as follows: 
Step 3 - Capping the level of any increaseA cap is then applied which limits the increases an individual local authority can face. How this is calculated depends on the current status of relevant strategic policies for housing. Where these policies were adopted within the last 5 years (at the point of making the calculation), the local housing need figure is capped at 40% above the average annual housing requirement figure set out in the existing policies. This also applies where the relevant strategic policies have been reviewed by the authority within the 5 year period and found to not require updating. For areas covered by spatial development strategies, the relevant strategic policies are those contained within the spatial development strategy. For example, where a requirement figure for an authority in a spatial development strategy differs from that in a local plan, the figure in the spatial development strategy should be used. Where the relevant strategic policies for housing were adopted more than 5 years ago (at the point of making the calculation), the local housing need figure is capped at 40% above whichever is the higher of: a. the projected household growth for the area over the 10 year period identified in step 1; or b. the average annual housing requirement figure set out in the most recently adopted strategic policies (if a figure exists). Worked examplesStep 1 - Setting the baselineAn authority’s household projections are:
This is a total of 9,500 new households over the 10 year period, equivalent to an average household growth of 950 per year. (Note: in this example 2019 is the starting point to measure the growth over a 10 year period; the difference between 2019 and 2020 is one year’s worth of growth and the difference between 2019 and 2029 is 10 years’ worth of growth). Step 2 - An adjustment to take account of affordabilityThe authority’s median workplace-based affordability ratio is 12.4. As this is above 4, then the following adjustment should be made. The adjustment is calculated as: 
The adjustment factor is therefore 1.525 and is used as: Minimum annual local housing need figure = (adjustment factor) x projected household growth Minimum annual local housing need figure = 1.525 x 950 The resulting figure is 1,449. Step 3 - Capping the level of any increaseHow the cap applies depends on the current status of relevant strategic policies for housing. Below are 3 examples. Example 1 relates to a plan that has been adopted or reviewed within the last 5 years. Examples 2a and 2b relate to plans that were adopted more than 5 years ago and have not been updated, and demonstrates situations where the cap does and does not limit the minimum annual local housing need figure. Cap example 1The local authority has adopted a local plan within the last 5 years, or has reviewed (and if necessary updated) the housing requirement figure in a plan adopted more than 5 years ago.
Cap = 850 + (40% x 850) = 850 + 340 = 1,190 The capped figure is lower than the minimum annual local housing need figure and therefore limits the increase to the local authority’s minimum annual housing need figure. The minimum figure for this local authority is therefore 1,190. Cap example 2aA local authority adopted a local plan more than 5 years ago and has not reviewed their housing requirement figure since then.
Cap = 950 + (40% x 950) = 950 + 380 = 1,330 The capped figure is lower than the minimum annual local housing need figure and therefore limits the increase to the local authority’s minimum annual housing need figure. The minimum figure for this local authority is therefore 1,330. Cap example 2bA local authority adopted a local plan more than 5 years ago and has not reviewed their housing requirement figure since then.
Cap = 1,200 + (40% x 1,200) = 1,200 + 480 = 1,680 The capped figure is greater than the minimum annual local housing need figure and therefore does not limit the increase to the local authority’s minimum annual housing need figure. The minimum figure for this local authority is therefore 1,449. Paragraph: 004 Reference ID: 2a-004-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 Why are 2014-based household projections used as the baseline for the standard method?The 2014-based household projections are used within the standard method to provide stability for planning authorities and communities, ensure that historic under-delivery and declining affordability are reflected, and to be consistent with the Government’s objective of significantly boosting the supply of homes. Paragraph: 005 Reference ID: 2a-005-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 Why is an affordability adjustment applied?An affordability adjustment is applied as household growth on its own is insufficient as an indicator of future housing need because:
The affordability adjustment is applied in order to ensure that the standard method for assessing local housing need responds to price signals and is consistent with the policy objective of significantly boosting the supply of homes. The specific adjustment in this guidance is set at a level to ensure that minimum annual housing need starts to address the affordability of homes. Paragraph: 006 Reference ID: 2a-006-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 Why is a cap applied?The standard method may identify a minimum local housing need figure that is significantly higher than the number of homes currently being planned for. The cap is applied to help ensure that the minimum local housing need figure calculated using the standard method is as deliverable as possible. The cap reduces the minimum number generated by the standard method, but does not reduce housing need itself. Therefore strategic policies adopted with a cap applied may require an early review and updating to ensure that any housing need above the capped level is planned for as soon as is reasonably possible. Where the minimum annual local housing need figure is subject to a cap, consideration can still be given to whether a higher level of need could realistically be delivered. This may help prevent authorities from having to undertake an early review of the relevant policies. Paragraph: 007 Reference ID: 2a-007-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 When should strategic policy-making authorities assess their housing need figure for policy-making purposes?Strategic policy-making authorities will need to calculate their local housing need figure at the start of the plan-making process. This number should be kept under review and revised where appropriate. The housing need figure generated using the standard method may change as the inputs are variable and this should be taken into consideration by strategic policy-making authorities. However, local housing need calculated using the standard method may be relied upon for a period of 2 years from the time that a plan is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for examination. Paragraph: 008 Reference ID: 2a-008-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How often are the affordability ratios updated?Affordability ratios are published every year (usually in March). Paragraph: 009 Reference ID: 2a-009-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 When might it be appropriate to plan for a higher housing need figure than the standard method indicates?The government is committed to ensuring that more homes are built and supports ambitious authorities who want to plan for growth. The standard method for assessing local housing need provides a minimum starting point in determining the number of homes needed in an area. It does not attempt to predict the impact that future government policies, changing economic circumstances or other factors might have on demographic behaviour. Therefore, there will be circumstances where it is appropriate to consider whether actual housing need is higher than the standard method indicates. This will need to be assessed prior to, and separate from, considering how much of the overall need can be accommodated (and then translated into a housing requirement figure for the strategic policies in the plan). Circumstances where this may be appropriate include, but are not limited to situations where increases in housing need are likely to exceed past trends because of:
There may, occasionally, also be situations where previous levels of housing delivery in an area, or previous assessments of need (such as a recently-produced Strategic Housing Market Assessment) are significantly greater than the outcome from the standard method. Authorities will need to take this into account when considering whether it is appropriate to plan for a higher level of need than the standard model suggests. Paragraph: 010 Reference ID: 2a-010-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 Can strategic policy-making authorities take account of past under delivery of new homes in preparing plans?The affordability adjustment is applied to take account of past under-delivery. The standard method identifies the minimum uplift that will be required and therefore it is not a requirement to specifically address under-delivery separately. Where an alternative approach to the standard method is used, past under delivery should be taken into account. Paragraph: 011 Reference ID: 2a-011-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How can plan-making authorities apply the method to the overall plan period?The method provides authorities with an annual number, based on a 10 year base line, which can be applied to the whole plan period. The National Planning Policy Framework requires strategic policies to look ahead over a minimum 15 year period from adoption, although authorities are required to keep their policies under review. Paragraph: 012 Reference ID: 2a-012-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How should local housing need be calculated where plans cover more than one area?Local housing need assessments may cover more than one area, in particular where strategic policies are being produced jointly, or where spatial development strategies are prepared by elected Mayors, or combined authorities with strategic policy-making powers. In such cases the housing need for the defined area should at least be the sum of the local housing need for each local planning authority within the area. It will be for the relevant strategic policy-making authority to distribute the total housing requirement which is then arrived at across the plan area. Where a spatial development strategy has been published, local planning authorities should use the local housing need figure in the spatial development strategy and should not seek to re-visit their local housing need figure when preparing new strategic or non-strategic policies. Paragraph: 013 Reference ID: 2a-013-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 Where strategic policy-making authority boundaries do not align with local authority boundaries, or data is not available, should the standard method be used to assess local housing need?Where strategic policy-making authorities do not align with local authority boundaries (either individually or in combination), or the data required for the model are not available such as in National Parks and the Broads Authority, where local authority boundaries have changed due to reorganisation within the last 5 years or local authority areas where the samples are too small, an alternative approach will have to be used. Such authorities may continue to identify a housing need figure using a method determined locally, but in doing so will need to consider the best available information on anticipated changes in households as well as local affordability levels. Paragraph: 014 Reference ID: 2a-014-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 If authorities use a different method how will this be tested at examination?Where data availability does not allow the standard method to be used, consideration will be given to whether it provides the basis for a plan that is positively prepared, taking into account the information available on household formation and affordability. Where a strategic policy-making authority can show that an alternative approach identifies a need higher than using the standard method, and that it adequately reflects current and future demographic trends and market signals, the approach can be considered sound as it will have exceeded the minimum starting point. Where an alternative approach results in a lower housing need figure than that identified using the standard method, the strategic policy-making authority will need to demonstrate, using robust evidence, that the figure is based on realistic assumptions of demographic growth and that there are exceptional local circumstances that justify deviating from the standard method. This will be tested at examination. Any method which relies on using the 2016-based household projections will not be considered to be following the standard method as set out in paragraph 60 of the National Planning Policy Framework. As explained above, it is not considered that these projections provide an appropriate basis for use in the standard method. Paragraph: 015 Reference ID: 2a-015-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How is housing need calculated for the purposes of decision making?There is separate guidance on how the standard method for assessing local housing need applies to calculating 5 Year Land Supply and the Housing Delivery Test. Paragraph: 016 Reference ID: 2a-016-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 Identifying the need for different types of housingHow does the housing need of particular groups relate to overall housing need calculated using the standard method?The need for housing for particular groups of people may well exceed, or be proportionally high in relation to, the overall housing need figure calculated using the standard method. This is because the needs of particular groups will often be calculated having consideration to the whole population of an area as a baseline as opposed to the projected new households which form the baseline for the standard method. When producing policies to address the needs of specific groups strategic policy-making authorities will need to consider how the needs of individual groups can be addressed within the overall need established. The standard method for assessing housing need does not break down the overall figure into different types of housing. Therefore the need for particular sizes, types and tenures of homes as well as the housing needs of particular groups should be considered separately. The household projections that form the baseline of the standard method are inclusive of all households including travellers as defined in Planning Policy for Traveller Sites. Older and disabled peopleThere is separate guidance on identifying the housing needs of older and disabled people. The private rented sectorTenure data from the Office for National Statistics can be used to understand the future need for private rented sector housing. However, this will be based on past trends. Market signals reflecting the demand for private rented sector housing could be indicated from the level of changes in rents. Evidence can also be sourced from the English Housing Survey, Office for National Statistics Private Rental Index, the Valuation Office Agency, HomeLet Rental Index and other commercial sources. Self-build and custom housebuildingMost local planning authorities (including all district councils and National Park Authorities) are now required to keep a register of individuals and associations of individuals who are seeking to acquire serviced plots of land in their area in order to build their own home. The Self-build and Custom Housebuilding (Register) Regulations 2016 set out these requirements. For further details, see guidance on self-build and custom housebuilding registers. In order to obtain a robust assessment of demand for this type of housing in their area, local planning authorities will need to assess and review the data held on registers. They can also supplement the data from the registers with secondary data sources such as building plot search websites, ‘Need-a-Plot’ information available from the Self Build Portal and enquiries for building plots from local estate agents. Student housingStrategic policy-making authorities need to plan for sufficient student accommodation whether it consists of communal halls of residence or self-contained dwellings, and whether or not it is on campus. Encouraging more dedicated student accommodation may take pressure off the private rented sector and increases the overall housing stock. Strategic policy-making authorities are encouraged to consider options which would support both the needs of the student population as well as local residents before imposing caps or restrictions on students living outside university-provided accommodation. They will also need to engage with universities and other higher educational establishments to ensure they understand their student accommodation requirements. Paragraph: 017 Reference ID: 2a-017-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 Affordable housingWhat types of households are considered to be in affordable housing need?All households whose needs are not met by the market can be considered in affordable housing need. The definition of affordable housing for planning purposes is set out in Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework. Paragraph: 018 Reference ID: 2a-018-20190220 How can affordable housing need be calculated?Strategic policy-making authorities will need to estimate the current number of households and projected number of households who lack their own housing or who cannot afford to meet their housing needs in the market. This should involve working with colleagues in their relevant authority (e.g. housing, health and social care departments). Paragraph: 019 Reference ID: 2a-019-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How can the current unmet gross need for affordable housing be calculated?Strategic policy-making authorities can establish the unmet (gross) need for affordable housing by assessing past trends and current estimates of:
Care should be taken to avoid double-counting, which may be brought about with the same households being identified on more than one transfer list, and to include only those households who cannot afford to access suitable housing in the market. Suggested data sources: Local authorities will hold data on the number of homeless households, those in temporary accommodation and extent of overcrowding. The Census also provides data on concealed households and overcrowding which can be compared with trends contained in the English Housing Survey. Housing registers and local authority and registered social landlord transfer lists will also provide relevant information. Paragraph: 020 Reference ID: 2a-020-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How can the number of newly arising households likely to be in affordable housing need be calculated (gross annual estimate)?Projections of affordable housing need will have to reflect new household formation, the proportion of newly forming households unable to buy or rent in the market area, and an estimate of the number of existing households falling into need. This process will need to identify the minimum household income required to access lower quartile (entry level) market housing (strategic policy-making authorities can use current costs in this process, but may wish to factor in anticipated changes in house prices and wages). It can then assess what proportion of newly-forming households will be unable to access market housing. Suggested data sources: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government household projections, English Housing Survey, local authority and registered social landlords databases, and mortgage lenders. Total newly arising affordable housing need (gross per year) = (the number of newly forming households x the proportion unable to afford market housing) + existing households falling into need Paragraph: 021 Reference ID: 2a-021-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How can the current total affordable housing supply available be calculated?There will be a current supply of housing stock that can be used to accommodate households in affordable housing need as well as future supply. Assessing the total affordable housing supply requires identifying:
Sources of data: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government affordable housing supply statistics to show recent trends, and local authority and Registered Social Landlord records including housing register, transfer lists, demolition and conversion programmes, development programme of affordable housing providers. Total affordable housing stock available = Dwellings currently occupied by households in need + surplus stock + committed additional housing stock – units to be taken out of management Paragraph: 022 Reference ID: 2a-022-20190220 Revision date: 13 09 2018 What is the relationship between the current housing stock and current and future needs?Strategic policy-making authorities will need to look at the current stock of houses of different sizes and assess whether these match current and future needs. Paragraph: 023 Reference ID: 2a-023-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How is the total annual need for affordable housing calculated?The total need for affordable housing will need to be converted into annual flows by calculating the total net need (subtract total available stock from total gross need) and converting total net need into an annual flow based on the plan period. The total affordable housing need can then be considered in the context of its likely delivery as a proportion of mixed market and affordable housing developments, taking into account the probable percentage of affordable housing to be delivered by eligible market housing led developments. An increase in the total housing figures included in the plan may need to be considered where it could help deliver the required number of affordable homes. Paragraph: 024 Reference ID: 2a-024-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 Economic needHow can authorities determine the type of employment land that is needed?Strategic policy-making authorities will need to prepare a robust evidence base to understand existing business needs, which will need to be kept under review to reflect local circumstances and market conditions. National economic trends may not automatically translate to particular areas with a distinct employment base. Where appropriate, local planning authorities can use their Authority Monitoring Report and the plan review process to ensure that their evidence base remains up to date. Functional economic market areas can overlap several administrative areas so strategic policy-making authorities may have to carry out assessments of need on a cross-boundary basis with neighbouring authorities within their functional economic market area. Local Enterprise Partnerships (and county councils) can play a key role in this process. Paragraph: 025 Reference ID: 2a-025-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How can strategic policy making authorities prepare and maintain evidence about business needs?In gathering evidence to plan for business uses, strategic policy making authorities will need to liaise closely with the business community, taking account of the Local Industrial Strategy, to understand their current and potential future requirements. They will need to assess:
Paragraph: 026 Reference ID: 2a-026-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How can market signals be used to forecast future need?Strategic policy making authorities will need to develop an idea of future needs based on a range of data which is current and robust, such as:
Authorities will need to take account of longer term economic cycles in assessing this data, and consider and plan for the implications of alternative economic scenarios. Paragraph: 027 Reference ID: 2a-027-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How can strategic policy making authorities identify the existing stock of employment land and identify the recent pattern of supply and loss?A simple typology of employment land by market segment and by sub-areas, where there are distinct property market areas within authorities, can be developed and analysed. This can be supplemented by information on permissions for other uses that have been granted, if available, on sites formerly in employment use. Paragraph: 028 Reference ID: 2a-028-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How can current market demand be analysed?The available stock of land can be compared with the particular requirements of the area so that ‘gaps’ and any over-supply in local employment land provision can be identified. It is important to consider recent employment land take-up and projections (based on past trends) and forecasts (based on future scenarios), and to identify instances where sites have been developed or sought for specialist economic uses. This will help to provide an understanding of the underlying requirements for office, general business and distribution space, and (when compared with the overall stock of employment sites) can form the context for appraising individual sites. Analysing supply and demand will allow policy makers to identify whether there is a mismatch between quantitative and qualitative supply of and demand for employment sites. This will enable an understanding of which market segments are over-supplied to be derived and those which are undersupplied. Paragraph: 029 Reference ID: 2a-02920190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How can employment land requirements be derived?When translating employment and output forecasts into land requirements, there are 4 key relationships which need to be quantified. This information can be used to inform the assessment of land requirements:
Paragraph: 030 Reference ID: 2a-030-20190220 Revision date: 20 02 2019 How can authorities assess need and allocate space for logistics?The logistics industry plays a critical role in enabling an efficient, sustainable and effective supply of goods for consumers and businesses, as well as contributing to local employment opportunities, and has distinct locational requirements that need to be considered in formulating planning policies (separately from those relating to general industrial land). Strategic facilities serving national or regional markets are likely to require significant amounts of land, good access to strategic transport networks, sufficient power capacity and access to appropriately skilled local labour. Where a need for such facilities may exist, strategic policy-making authorities should collaborate with other authorities, infrastructure providers and other interests to identify the scale of need across the relevant market areas. This can be informed by:
Strategic policy-making authorities will then need to consider the most appropriate locations for meeting these identified needs (whether through the expansion of existing sites or development of new ones). Authorities will also need to assess the extent to which land and policy support is required for other forms of logistics requirements, including the needs of SMEs and of ‘last mile’ facilities serving local markets. A range of up-to-date evidence may have to be considered in establishing the appropriate amount, type and location of provision, including market signals, anticipated changes in the local population and the housing stock as well as the local business base and infrastructure availability. Paragraph: 031 Reference ID: 2a-031-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 How can the specific locational requirements of specialist or new sectors be addressed?When assessing what land and policy support may be needed for different employment uses, it will be important to understand whether there are specific requirements in the local market which affect the types of land or premises needed. Clustering of certain industries (such as some high tech, engineering, digital, creative and logistics activities) can play an important role in supporting collaboration, innovation, productivity, and sustainability, as well as in driving the economic prospects of the areas in which they locate. Strategic policy-making authorities will need to develop a clear understanding of such needs and how they might be addressed taking account of relevant evidence and policy within Local Industrial Strategies. For example, this might include the need for greater studio capacity, co-working spaces or research facilities. These needs are often more qualitative in nature and will have to be informed by engagement with businesses and occupiers within relevant sectors. Paragraph: 032 Reference ID: 2a-032-20190722 |