Author: Christine Eden
WECA ‘Solar Together’ scheme
Solar panel spreadsheet
Getting Solar Power to Save on Your Electricity Bill
You have probably had a letter from Dan Norris, our Metro Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) telling you about a scheme (also supported by South Gloucestershire Council) for buying solar panels .
If you are thinking about this, the deadline for registering an interest (no commitment) in the buying scheme that they are presenting is Friday 27th October.
The WECA letter suggests going to the website of “Solar Together” to explore information about planning, costs, energy you might generate, etc: www.solartogether.co.uk/south-gloucestershire.
To help you make a decision about registering an interest and whether fitting solar (and a battery system) is worthwhile, the Energy Working Group of the MCLT has put together a spreadsheet (attached) to give you a rough indication of payback, etc, under different assumptions. All you have to do is fill in a few boxes with your own data and it will do the calculations and show you the results: the year when your return goes positive (you’ve paid for the kit and any interest if you are borrowing to pay for the kit), the year when you will have paid back a loan (if taking one), the net return after 25years, and a simple bar chart showing the total net return by year.
The boxes have data already in place to represent one possible scenario and you may change these as you wish. Running the spreadsheet with different data is interesting.
If you are considering getting a loan to pay for the kit and installation then we have been advised that www.lendology.org.uk are currently offering a loan at 4.2% and in a way that will have no impact on your credit rating : you might like to explore this (in the box about rate of interest we have entered 4.2%, but you can change this). Some mortgage lenders may also offer favourable terms.
Please note that any return on your investment will also be subject to many other considerations such as where the panels go, the angle at which they are able to be installed, family electricity average use (we have used data from our real examples). We have assumed that if the house is empty all of the working day then it uses 80% of the electricity generated and used by a home occupied all day. So, please take the results from the spreadsheet as indicative only. They are based on a 4kW installation facing south.
In order to use the spreadsheet you will need a computer with Microsoft Excel installed.
For those familiar with spreadsheets, you can unhide the calculations worksheet if you wish.
The spreadsheet is only an aid to give a measure of possible investment outcome, and other issues such as planning will need to be addressed. Registering an interest will give time to consider these.
Please feel free to pass this note and the spreadsheet to others who are not MCLT members.
If you have questions, please contact Tony Kerr: tony.kerr@communitylandtrust.org
The MCLT Energy Working Group: Tony Kerr, Jim Brookes, Dan Smith, Colin Eden, Geoff Greenwood, Antony Nolan, Bill Gethin, Phil Padfield, Howard Finnegan.
18/10/23
MCLT Update August 2022
MCLT Updates
1. Affordable Housing Scheme at Garston Farm
Key Points
- Increasing building costs have threatened the viability of the scheme
- Making changes to reduce costs would create problems with planning and timescales but we think we can achieve viability by transferring the three proposed market houses to shared ownership
- This new scheme is eligible for a higher grant and looks financially viable
- We can’t be confident that the scheme can go ahead until the construction contract is signed.
Recent Challenges
You will know from reports in AAM that the last few months have been difficult for the affordable housing project. We have been trying to secure a contractor who could offer a tender price that was economically viable at a time when the building industry is facing significant increased costs.
Brighter Places, our partner housing association, has put the scheme out to tender three times and has finally found a contractor who is keen to move ahead. Attempts to reduce costs by changing the physical characteristics of the scheme are counteracted by increased difficulties with planning and timescales.
Finding a solution
A better strategy is to eliminate the three market houses. These were intended to cross-subsidise the scheme, but currently will not do so. Instead, we intend to substitute three additional shared ownership houses. This strategy will attract a higher level of government subsidy and will increase the benefits to local people. At our village consultations, we had been asked if it was possible to have more shared ownership homes so this seems a positive step.
Shared ownership allows people to buy a share of a property while paying rent on the rest. This reduces the mortgage and the required deposit so getting onto the property ladder becomes more affordable (more information at: Gov.uk website).
We continue to have the support of Homes England and South Gloucestershire Council who are providing grant funding for the project. Both organisations recognise that our difficulties are being shared across the construction sector including many other CLT projects.
Next steps
We will not be certain the scheme can go ahead until we have signed with our contractor. But we are hopeful that we have now found a good way forward. We will report progress in our Annual Report for the AGM.
2. Renewable Energy Project
Key points
- The Energy Working Group has been exploring renewable energy generation for over 3 years
- It received a government grant that paid for specialist consultants to explore options
- The location of Marshfield limits options (due to grid connection costs) but it may be possible to mitigate this by substantially increasing local generation capacity in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council
- The findings and options will be shared with the village on October21st & 22nd in the Community Centre
- All are invited to come and give their views.
Background
The MCLT Energy Working Group has been exploring for over three years whether it is possible to set up a renewable energy generation project which would benefit the local community and contribute to addressing the climate crisis.
In 2021 the EWG received a government grant to carry out a feasibility study into providing locally, sufficient sustainable (solar) energy to offset the total future annual demand of the village. This was reported at an open Zoom meeting, limited by Covid, on 29th March 2021.
Feasibility Study
The feasibility study aimed to assess the financial viability of establishing a 5 MW solar farm north of the A420 that would:
- help meet the climate crisis by offsetting our electricity consumption
- generate a financial return for other community projects
- provide a reduction in electricity bills for the village
- provide an opportunity for residents to invest in the project.
The work carried out during the feasibility study, by ourselves and our chosen external consultants (Locogen), has provided an enormous amount of valuable information. This is contained in a substantial report produced by Locogen earlier this year.
As a result of the location of Marshfield relative to the National Grid, the cost of connection to the nearest Western Power Distribution high voltage point means our initial objective is not financially viable as it stands.
However, Locogen have identified a possible solution by substantially increasing local generation capacity overall and sharing the cost of connection with the support of SGC who have already evaluated a feasibility study for a project to generate some 12MW of wind power.
What next
We aim to present and share the findings with everyone in Marshfield Community Centre on Oct 21st & 22nd 2022 and see what you think about the different options.
This will be a long term and complex project and we would only want to continue to explore options if there is sufficient support from our community.
Please put the date in your diary and come to the Energy consultation in October and share your views on the work so far. We will let you have further details nearer the date.
Contacts
Please contact any of the MCLT Board or Energy Working Group through a note via the Tolzey Hall or by email if you have questions about either project.
Energy Working Group
Jim Brookes (chair EWG: jim.brookes@marshfieldclt.org), Tony Kerr (Project leader: tony.kerr@marshfieldclt.org ), Colin Eden, Geoff Greenwood, Anthony Nolan, Dan Smith.
MCLT Board
Christine Eden (chair: christine.eden@marshfieldclt.org) Oliver Shirley (vice -chair), Vicky Williams (Secretary), Simon Turner (Treasurer), Jim Brookes, Ian Dawes, Ian Jones, Ros Snow.
August 2022
Affordable Housing Needs Survey Report Parish of Marshfield – Jan/Feb 2019
Conducted by:
The Strategic Housing Enabling Team and the Corporate Research & Consultation Team, South Gloucestershire Council
In partnership with Marshfield Parish Council
Date: January 2019
Marshfield Parish Housing Needs Survey 2018 Introduction
Summary
In July 2018, 750 questionnaires were hand delivered to all households in Marshfield Parish, which includes the villages of Marshfield and also the hamlets of Ashwicke and West Littleton.
The questionnaires sought household information which would provide initial evidence of the level of need for Affordable Housing amongst residents and those with a connection to the parish.
Subsequent analysis by South Gloucestershire council found that there is likely to be a need for a small number of affordable dwellings based on survey findings of 17 households who were judged to be in housing need.
Depending on the availability of an appropriate site, these findings and any further evidence may support an application to develop a small number of affordable homes as a rural exception site.
Summary of findings
- 750 households were delivered survey forms, 258 responses were received, the response rate was 34.4%
- 46 responses received to Part 2
- 17 households identified as being in need of Affordable Housing
- Background
- Between July 2018 and September 2018, the Strategic Housing Enabling Team of South Gloucestershire Council on behalf of and in conjunction with Marshfield Parish Council undertook an independent Affordable Housing Needs Survey for Marshfield Parish. The format and questions of this survey and covering letter were agreed by all parties (see appendix 1 and 2).
- The findings set out in this report are based solely on the responses of those people who chose to respond. The results of this consultation are not necessarily statistically representative of the views of all Marshfield Parish residents due to the nature of the consultation methodology used.
- The level of response, information gathered and views obtained provide a useful indicator of opinion and any important issues that will need to be considered.
- Purpose of Housing Needs Survey
- The main objective of the survey is to gather and collate information in order to estimate the number of households wishing to move both within and back to Marshfield Parish in the next five years and in particular, to assess the number of households in need of “affordable housing” and who may have a “local connection” to Marshfield Parish. This information will help to identify the type and size of affordable housing required.
- Should the results of the survey suggest that there is a need for some Affordable Housing in Marshfield Parish, it may be recommended that a suitable site is identified for development as a rural exception site. Should a planning application be submitted to implement any development proposals, it would be good practice to send a letter to all residents asking them to register their interest in the proposed housing. This would identify actual households who would then apply to the council’s HomeChoice register, providing details of their financial and other circumstances so that their eligibility for Affordable Housing can be assessed. This would provide a check on the survey findings and give robust support to the planning application.
- There are limited opportunities for new residential development within the settlement boundaries of most parishes in South Gloucestershire and planning policy restricts development in open countryside, especially Green Belt. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) allows development in these areas as ‘rural exception sites’ for Affordable Housing which meets ‘the needs of the local community by accommodating households who are either current residents or have an existing family or employment connection’ (Annex 2, NPPF 2018). A proportion of market homes may be allowed on such sites to improve the viability of the development (see Appendix 3). The council’s policy on rural exception sites is set out in policy CS19 of the Core Strategy.
- Appendix 3 sets out the NPPF definition for affordable housing. When assessing local connection this will either depend on the length of time a household has lived in the parish, or has an employment or family connection or if there are special circumstances. See Appendix 4 Local Connection criteria.
- Format of survey
- The survey that was delivered to all households in the Parish of Marshfield formed two distinct parts. All households were asked to complete Part 1 to provide detailed background information on the profile of household’s resident in the community and of the current housing supply.
- Those households wishing to move home within the next five years and stay living in the parish were asked to complete Part 2 as well. Those who had family or friends who had moved away because they were unable to find accommodation in the area and those working in the parish were also encouraged to complete survey forms if they wanted to move back to or live in the parish.
- This information would enable the council to identity the nature of those respondents’ housing needs and whether or not they would be able to resolve their needs in the local housing market.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the questionnaire cannot identify individual households and that any data provided is confidential and covered by the Data Protection Act.
- Survey Distribution
- Marshfield Parish is bounded by the parishes of Tomarton and Nettleton in the north, N. Wraxall and Colerne in the east, St Catherine and Batheaston in the south and Dodington, Dyrham & Hinton & Cold Ashton in the west. The parish consists mainly of the large village of Marshfield but also the hamlets of Ashwicke in the south and part of West Littleton in the west.
- In total 750 paper copies were distributed to the parish for delivery: additional copies were handed out by town council representatives and at the consultation event in August to those who worked in the village but did not reside there or to those who wished to live in the village, had a family connection to the area but struggled to find appropriate housing.
- The distribution of the surveys with a covering letter was organised by Marshfield Parish council and questionnaires were hand delivered during the weeks of the 2nd & 9th July 2018 to all domestic addresses listed in Marshfield Parish. Those addresses comprised 750 residential households taken from the Local Land and Property Gazetteer and some non-residential addresses such as public houses where there might be residents. The Local Land and Property Gazetteer is a database of addresses within a local authority’s boundary. It includes both residential and commercial properties as well as non-addressable properties such as churches and telephone boxes.
4.4 Households were given free-post envelopes to encourage a good response to the survey. All paper copies and on-line surveys were assigned a unique ID number. The council is satisfied no duplicated responses were received.
4.5 The survey was supported by two consultation events organised by Marshfield Parish Council: The Boules Tournament on the 7th July 2018 and the Village Day on 18th August, during which over twenty surveys were requested by attendees. In addition, publicity was organised by the parish in the form of notices and articles in the local parish newsletter and other local forums. The deadline for return of the questionnaires was 3rd September 2018, giving a consultation period of eight weeks. This was then extended until 14th of Sept to compensate for the late delivery of some surveys at the start of the survey period in July 2018.
- Response rate
- In total 258 responses were received. Taking into account the 750 questionnaires distributed to addresses by hand this would be a response rate of 34.4%. The town council wanted to ensure that those working in Marshfield or those who had to move away from the village due to a lack of suitable housing also had the chance to complete the survey. Approximately 40 extra surveys were handed out on request to the town council or to South Gloucestershire Council’s Enabling Team as well at the consultation event. When using this increased base of 790 to calculate the response rate, a figure of 32.6% is arrived at.
- Of the 258 responses, 46 respondents completed Part 2 of the survey i.e. those households wishing to move home in the next five years.
- Key Findings
- Based on those 46 households who responded to Part 2, 17 households were identified as being in need of affordable housing. Of these 13 would require social rent tenure, 4 would be for shared ownership tenure i.e. part buy and rent from a housing association.
Table 1: Affordable Housing | |
Social Rent tenure | 13 households |
Shared Ownership (40% or 50% product) | 4 households |
Total | 17 households |
- Of the total of 13 households deemed to be in need of rented affordable accommodation, social rent tenure is recommended to ensure affordability and to comply with the findings of the Council’s Strategic Housing Market Assessment addendum 2013. An assessment of each household’s monthly net income against private rents indicates that affordable rent tenure is not considered to be affordable.
- Twenty households are considered financially capable of meeting their own housing needs on the open market. This may be either through having the required minimum income and deposit to purchase a property with a mortgage, through having sufficient income to meet the market rent for properties with their assessed bedroom need or that they owned their properties outright and would therefore be considered to have the appropriate equity to meet their housing needs through the sale of their property and then an open market purchase.
- Six of the above households indicated that they either wished to downsize to smaller accommodation, that they would prefer the choice of a bungalow to be able to move into, that they needed an adaptable property or that they were considering the move to a retirement or nursing home at some future point.
- In total, a further ten households could not be assessed as they did not provide the necessary information to do so. Of these:
- 2 responses contained no income, deposit range, purchase range or rental affordability
- 3 respondents provided no detail on income, deposit or rental range
- 4 households gave no information on their income or rental affordability
- 1 person did not provide detail on the household needing to move and their bedroom need but given their income would be deemed able to meet housing need on the open rental market
- Seven of these 10 households owned their existing properties outright
- One respondent indicated there were two other households known to them in need of Affordable Housing in Marshfield. It was subsequently possible to identify the two separate survey responses this related to and to then discount the original response.
- Recommendation
- The Housing Needs Survey identified a local need of 17 affordable homes in the parish of Marshfield (10 x 1-bed, 5 x 2-bed, and 2 x 3-bed). It is recommended that the parish council formally accepts the findings of the survey which in turn can be used to assist the parish when considering the following:
- Any future proposals or planning applications for a rural exceptions site for Affordable Housing in Marshfield. The findings and recommendations of housing surveys are generally considered to be valid for a period of five years, although the weight that can be attached to them will decrease during that period.
8 Marshfield Parish Overview
Data in this section is drawn from the Census of Population for England and Wales for 2011 and 2001 (Office for National Statistics).
- Population and area
Marshfield is rural parish which covers an area of 2388.65 hectares. In 2011 it had a population of 1,716 usual residents; 864 were male (50.3%) and 852 (49.7%) were female.
- Age demographics
Marshfield has an older age structure than the South Gloucestershire average (median age of 44 years compared to South Gloucestershire median age of 40 years). In particular the parish has a lower proportion of younger adults (aged 18-30yrs) and a higher proportion of residents aged 60 and over.
Population change 2001-2011: Between 2001 and 2011 the population of Marshfield increased by 100 residents (+6%). The table below shows how the age distribution of the parish changed between 2001 and 2011; most notable is the decline in the number of younger adults (aged 16 – 44yrs) and the increase in older residents – particularly those aged 75 and over (+51%).
Table 3:
Source: Census 2011 – Office for National Statistics via nomis
- Household type
At the time of the 2011 Census there were 741 dwellings in Marshfield, 719 of which were occupied by at least one usual resident. The average household size is 2.4 persons per household which is consistent with the South Gloucestershire average (2.4).
Just over a third of household spaces are terraced (35%) which is the highest proportion of any property type in Marshfield and is higher than the South Gloucestershire average (27.4%). Only 5% of households are flats which is considerably lower than the South Gloucestershire average of 11.4%.
Source: Census 2011 – Office for National Statistics via nomis
*’Terraced’: Includes end terrace. Flat: Includes maisonette or apartment, purpose built block of flats, part of a converted or shared house (including bed-sits), in commercial building, caravan or other mobile or temporary structure. Caravan: Includes caravan or other mobile or temporary structure.
8.4. Household tenure and number of bedrooms
The distribution of household tenure broadly replicates the South Gloucestershire average (see graph below) with the majority of households being owner occupied (73.5%) and the smallest proportion living ‘rent free’ (2.6%).
Between 2001 and 2011 the number of private rented properties in Marshfield increased significantly (+168%). This high rate of increase however is in-line with the increase experienced at the district level over the same timeframe (+163%).
Household tenure: change over time
Table 4:
2001 | 2011 | Change | % change | |
Owner occupied | 510 | 529 | 19 | 4% |
Social rented | 66 | 64 | -2 | -3% |
Private rented | 40 | 107 | 67 | 168% |
Living rent free/other | 29 | 19 | -10 | -34% |
Total Households | 645 | 719 | 74 | 11% |
Number of bedrooms
Marshfield has a much higher proportion of larger (4 bed and 5 bed homes) than the South Gloucestershire average (40% compared to 21%) and a lower proportion of smaller homes.
Source: Census 2011 – Office for National Statistics via nomis
*Social rented: Includes rented from Council and rented from housing association / Registered Social Landlord, Owner occupied: Includes, Owned outright, owned with a mortgage or loan, in shared ownership (e.g. pays part rent and part mortgage), Private rented: Included rented from private landlord or letting agency and rented from other, Living rent free / other: Includes employer of a household member and relative or friend of a household member and living rent free.
9. Sold house prices and private rents
9.1. Median house price
The Office of National Statistics’ house price statistics for small areas provides the median house prices and number of sales for various areas. In Quarter 1 2018, the median house price in South Gloucestershire for all dwelling types was £261,250, which is an increase of 4.5% when compared to the previous year (£250,000 in Q1 2016).
In Quarter 1 2018, the median house price for the lower super output area of Marshfield (E01014869), which follows the same boundaries as the Marshfield Parish, was £505,000 which is significantly higher than the median house price for South Gloucestershire.
Median house price: explanatory note via Source Office for National Statistics, 2015:
The median is the value determined by putting all the house sales for a given year, area and type in order of price and then selecting the price of the house sale which falls in the middle, such that an equal number of transactions lie above and below that value. The median is less susceptible to distortion by the presence of extreme values than is the mean, and it is the most appropriate average given the near 100% sample of house sales.
9.2. Sold house prices
Sold house prices have been obtained from Rightmove (www.rightmove.co.uk) and cover the period of October 2016 to July 2018. These figures are not official estimates of average property prices in the area and are to be treated as indicative only and are meant to provide a rough guide to sales history in the parish.
The table below illustrates median and lower quartile house prices for a range of house types sold within Marshfield Parish.
Sold House Prices
Table 5:
Lower Quartile: explanatory note via Source Office for National Statistics, 2015: The lower quartile is the value determined by putting all the house sales for a given year, area and type in order of price and then selecting the price of the house sale which falls three quarters of the way down the list. Therefore, lower quartile values are the upper limit of the cheapest 25% of houses of a particular type.
Using the sold house price data, the council has calculated the median house values for each property size. Median values are less susceptible to distortion by the presence of extreme values than is the mean. Sold house prices obtained for properties in Marshfield illustrate a wide gap for the same number bedroom property sizes, e.g. two bedrooms house prices range between £233,000 and £550,000 and four bedroom properties range between £220,000 and £625,000. To account for the range of sold prices a lower quartile value has also been calculated.
Limited sales are available for 1 bedroom and 5 bedroom properties in Marshfield, this is likely due to the smaller proportion of properties of these sizes. Due to this, data for these properties has been excluded as the results were not representative of the area.
Following agreement with the Parish Council, median house and flat prices for the sale of 1-bedroom properties were gathered through comparison with prices in villages nearer to Bath.
9.3. Private rents
The below table sets out private rental prices for Marshfield Parish. Information has been obtained from www.rightmove.co.uk. The council has established the median and lower quartile values which will be used as a benchmark to assess affordability. As the number of properties currently available to rent in Marshfield parish is quite limited a wider search of nearby locations has been carried out. It should be noted however that these locations may have different facilities to Marshfield. Please see appendix 6 for map of the area covered.
There is a lack of 1 bedroom and 5+ bedroom properties on the market for renting and these have therefore been removed from the results. Following agreement with the Parish Council, median house and flat prices for the rental of 1-bedroom properties were gathered through comparison with prices in areas closer to Bath.
Rental Prices
Table 6:
10. Supply and demand for affordable homes
As of December 2018 there are 48 affordable homes available for rent in Marshfield owned by Merlin Housing Society. None of these are current voids. These 48 affordable homes comprise a mix of 16 x 1-bed sheltered bungalows and 1 x sheltered housing flat, 10 x 2 bed general needs flats and 21 x 3-bed general needs houses.
10.1 Since September 2016 there have 3 re-lets of the above properties.
10.2 The table below illustrates the demand for Affordable Housing in Marshfield as of 16th November 2018 with information obtained from the council’s HomeChoice register. At this time there were 3992 applicants on the Housing Register, of which 258 households have chosen Marshfield as an area to be rehoused, 6 households have chosen Marshfield as their first choice area preference. Of these 6 households, 4 are currently living within Marshfield,
Table 7: Applicants on South Gloucestershire Housing Register | |||||
3992 applicants on Housing Register | Those who have chosen Marshfield | Those who have chosen Marshfield as first choice | Band A (incl priority cards) | Band B | Registered |
District wide | 258 | 6 | 252 | 1754 | 1985 |
Households living in Marshfield | Information not available | Information not available | Information not available | Information not available | Information not available |
*Household/s that fall within bands A and B are deemed to be in housing need and those who are not are allocated to the ‘Registered’ category.
10.3 Supply of private dwellings
When looking at current and recent residential development in Marshfield Parish, from 2015-16 until December 2018, a total of 7 applications have been ‘approved with conditions’, equating to 10 new dwellings. These include barn conversions, redundant stable conversions and demolitions and are all for one or two dwellings.
A further 2 applications are awaiting decisions, involving 11 potential new dwellings. This includes one application for 9 dwellings (3 x 1 bed, 4 x 2 bed and 2 x 3 bed properties). None of these applications are for schemes large enough to warrant an Affordable Housing contribution (See Appendix 7 for details of those planning permissions).
Merlin HS also have an application for 3 Affordable Housing units awaiting a decision.
10.4 In conclusion, a rural housing needs survey helps to determine more precisely the level of need within the parish for Affordable Housing and also to identify the size, type and tenure of the affordable homes required. The following sections of this report will assess and set out the findings of the information returned for Parts 1 & 2 of the survey, with the aim of establishing whether there is a local Affordable Housing need.
- Marshfield Housing Needs Survey – results of Part One
-
- All households in the parish of Marshfield were asked to complete ‘part one’ of the housing needs survey. The purpose of collecting this information is to help give an overview of the community, in particular its housing profile and views on Affordable Housing and other housing options in the parish.
- All households in the parish of Marshfield were asked to complete ‘part one’ of the housing needs survey. The purpose of collecting this information is to help give an overview of the community, in particular its housing profile and views on Affordable Housing and other housing options in the parish.
- In total there were 258 responses to ‘part one’.
- All answers for ‘part one’ are calculated from a base of up to 258 responses. Percentages have been based on the number of responses to each question – excluding ‘no reply’ responses.
- The survey results have been analysed and a broad overview of the responses to the key questions are reported below. The complete response count for all questions can be found under Appendix 11.
12. The Survey and results
Question 1 asked respondents to enter their unique survey eligibility code.
Please note: percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding
Q2: Is this address your main home?
Chart 1:
Most of those responding, 249 or 98%, told us that the address the survey was delivered to was their primary home:
5 people (2%) said it was their second home.
Base: 254
Q3: Your current type of home?
Chart 2:
Respondents were asked how they would describe their current home.
A significant majority, 94% or 239 people, confirmed that their type of home was a house.
Just 4% live in a flat or apartment with 1% in a bungalow.
Base: 253
- ‘Marshfield Alms Houses’ was the one comment left for Q3a: Other, please specify?
Q4: Is your current home ……?
Chart 3:
Most respondents (84%) either owned their property outright (146 or 58%) or owned it with a mortgage (67 or 26%).
Renters formed 12% of responses with 17 or 7% doing so from a private landlord and 13 or 5% from a housing association.
Base: 253
Other types of ownership noted, albeit just from a handful of respondents, included those living with parents, students returning during vacations and a property shared with a spouse.
Q5: How many people live in this home?
Chart 4:
The largest grouping of respondents, (113 or 45%) were from 2-person households with a further 25% (63 responses) from single person households.
Four-person households formed 17% of responses, 3-person homes formed 9% and 5-person 4%.
Base: 253
Q6: How many bedrooms are there in this home?
Chart 5:
Three and 4-bedroom properties made up three quarters (75%) of responses.
14% of respondents had 2-bedroom properties and 8% were in 5-beds. Just 3% were in a 1-bed.
Base: 254
Q7: Please confirm how many households live in this home?
For the purpose of the survey, anyone over 18 living with you, either on their own or with a partner and/or family, or spending time away from home for educational purposes, counts as a separate household IF they wish to find a home of their own in the next 5 years.
Chart 6:
A significant majority of respondents, 216 or 89%, confirmed there was just one household at their property.
Eighteen responses, 7%, said there was 2 and a further 10 responses or 4% were from properties which had 3 or more households.
Base: 244
Q8: What type of household are you?
Chart 7:
Whilst most households consisted of either a 2-parent family (67 responses or 26%) or a retired couple (63 or 25%), both 1-person households (55 or 22%) and couples (46 or 18%) also formed significant responses.
Retired single individuals with 19 responses or 7% and lone parent families on 12 responses (5%) helped make up the remainder of responses.
Base: 255
Some ‘Other’ households were defined in the comment section for this question as a single parent living with another family member and those living with grown-up children or parents.
Q9: What is your connection to Marshfield Parish?
Chart 8:
Most respondents, 235 or 92%, lived in the parish.
Around a third of responses said that they either lived with family in the parish (17%), worked in the area (11%) or had previously lived in Marshfield (5%).
Respondents could tick more than one option so % will add-up to more than 100%.
Base: 255
Other connections explained in the comment section for this question included people whose families lived in a nearby South Glos parish, someone who lives in Marshfield only when working in Bristol and some respondents who noted that they were born in the village.
Q10: Has your home been adapted to make it more suitable for a household member(s) with physical disabilities?
Chart 9:
Most of those responding, 233 or 91%, said that their homes had not been adapted:
9% or 22 people said that they did have an adaptation.
Base: 255
Q11: Will your current home need adapting to make it more suitable for a household member(s) with physical disabilities in the next five years?
Chart 10:
Whilst most respondents (203 or 83%) won’t currently need to adapt their homes in the next 5 years, 41 responses or 17% said that they would need to.
Base: 255
Q12: Are you in favour of a small number of affordable homes being developed for local people if there is a proven need?
Chart 11:
Well over three quarters of those responding (204 people or 82%) were in favour of a small number of affordable homes being developed.
9% were not in favour and the same amount of responses, 9%, did not know and were unable to express support or opposition
Base: 249
Q13: If an affordable housing need is identified in this Parish, where do you think a scheme should be developed or do you know of any possible sites?
This question was an open text response: 132 comments were made
Chart 12:
Base: 132
In half of all comments respondents referred to a specific location and over half of these mentioned land by the school on the east-side of the village. Other sites that gleaned noticeable support included land by or near the Alms-houses, land by St Martins Lane, The Crown Inn pub and land to the east, west and north of the A420.
A full list of the sites mentioned in responses can be found at Appendix 11 (p80-81).
In almost a fifth of comments (25 or 19%) respondents offered a general principle on any development in or near Marshfield Village. These included:
“Within the existing footprint of the village” “Try to keep village as one entity i.e. not building in areas some way away from existing properties” |
Anonymous respondents
Further development ‘principles’ that people felt important were:
“As part of ‘infill’ within the village development boundary – if a need for AH is identified, then the threshold for requiring an affordable housing element as part of new residential development, should be lowered” “Possibly extending the village settlement at either end of the village” “Adjoining the village in the Green Belt” “On brownfield sites not Green Belt” “With careful design i.e. authentic Cotswold look” |
Anonymous respondents
Some other significant themes included the 21 comments (16%) that precluded any building on the existing green belt as well as the 9 comments that advocated doing just that.
Marshfield Community Land Trust (MCLT) was also mentioned in 10 comments, often in conjunction with a potential site near the school.
Some new ideas were put forward such as:
“Develop existing properties that have been left undeveloped/renovated” “If there were more affordable bungalows for older persons other houses could be freed up for younger people” “They need to be truly affordable. Rental property or a care home for retired people may be better” |
Anonymous respondents
Other comments covered issues from private developers, landowners and 2 people who felt that either there should be no affordable housing in the village or no new housing at all.
Table 1: Where should an Affordable Housing scheme be developed?
Comment theme | No. of comments | % of total comments |
Specific location | 66 | 50% |
By school | 34 | 26% |
General principle | 25 | 19% |
Don’t know / unsure | 24 | 18% |
Not on greenbelt / within village boundary | 21 | 16% |
By Almshouses | 13 | 10% |
CLT | 10 | 8% |
On greenbelt | 9 | 7% |
Miscellany | 5 | 4% |
New ideas | 5 | 4% |
Queries | 3 | 2% |
Crown Pub | 3 | 2% |
St Martins Lane | 2 | 2% |
No new housing | 2 | 2% |
On private developers | 1 | 1% |
On landowners | 1 | 1% |
Base: 132
Q14: Has anyone from your family moved away in the last five years due to difficulty finding suitable housing in the parish?
Chart 13:
Whilst most respondents, 213 or 86%, said that they had not had a family member move away from the village due to housing issues, 13% or 32 people had.
Base: 248
Q15: Does anyone living in your current home need to move to alternative housing within the parish in the next five years?
Chart 14:
In 15% of responses, or 35 households, there was a family member who would need to move to alternative housing within the next 5 years.
Base: 230
Q16: Please tell us who needs to move?
Chart 15:
Of the 41 responses to this question, just under half (20 or 49%) said that the whole household would need to move together.
For slightly less people (18 or 44%) only an additional household needed to move and for a small number of respondents (3 or 7%), both the main and additional household would need to move.
Base: 41
Q17: Please use this space to make any comments regarding this survey or on the issue of affordable rural housing?
This question asked for an open text response: 57 comments were made.
Chart 16:
Base: 57
Comments in a third of responses offered varying degrees of support for new affordable housing in Marshfield, noting it would meet need, support the long-term life of the village and would counter balance the number of larger, executive homes:
“As a young family we are desperate for affordable housing in Marshfield ….. we would be forced to leave the village if we ever wanted to buy” “A village cannot stagnate – new housing is essential” “We need to insist any new development is affordable – not just more expensive places” “Affordable housing YES but not 10 expensive houses to 3 affordable houses!” |
Anonymous respondents
In slightly fewer comments, several responses noted the negative impact that new affordable housing could have on the village & area and asked whether those wanting to live in Marshfield could afford it?
“Can they afford the transport and living cost of a rural life? Many have tried and cannot …..This village does not need any more affordable housing” Not enough infrastructure to cope with more cars, schools or shops. No space for a convenient car park” “The village should not grow anymore, it has changed too much already due to high income commuters moving in” |
Anonymous respondents
Affordability was noted in a number of other comments as well; most frequently in regard to the current inability to afford housing prices in Marshfield and how new affordable housing could help this:
“We as a household have a need for affordable housing and support the need for sustainable affordable rental housing within the parish for those living and connected to the parish” “We are currently unable to get a mortgage in the area, so are private renting, which is costing us three times the amount of a mortgage!” |
Anonymous respondents
Suggestions and ideas were given in a number of comments for how best to provide affordable housing or were related to what the respondent thought the village really needs:
“There is one house in village been up for sale more than 8 years! Buy it and convert or demolish and build 2 smaller homes or a low rise block of flats” “Any scheme should be only available to residents or families of Marshfield resident and should not be able to sub-let or sell at market value” “Affordable housing should be mixed with new development in the village” “This village needs a care home for the elderly or at least downsize properties suitable for the elderly of the village” |
Anonymous respondents
Several comments made reference to the survey some in support of it but other disagreeing. A majority of comments regarding the green belt disagreed with any development on this but some considered it necessary.
Table 2:
Comment theme | No. of comments | % of total comments |
Yes AH | 19 | 33% |
Affordability | 12 | 21% |
No AH | 12 | 21% |
Suggestions | 11 | 19% |
On Survey | 9 | 16% |
Green belt | 7 | 12% |
Miscellany | 6 | 11% |
Query on survey | 5 | 9% |
Infrastructure & population | 5 | 9% |
CLT | 4 | 7% |
Public transport | 3 | 5% |
Base: 57
About the respondents
This section is really important as it helps us to understand of the needs of people who have answered the survey. This information will remain confidential and will be used for analysis purposes only
Q18: Postcodes:
229 postcodes were provided.
Q19: Gender
Chart 17:
Most of those responding were female (59%) with just under 2 fifths (39%) male.
Base: 232
Q20: Age
Chart 18:
42% of those who answered this question were 65 and over:
76% of respondents were over 45
Base: 236
Q21: Disability
Chart 19:
Most of those responding, 92%, did not have a disability.
Base: 238
Q22: Ethnicity
Chart 20:
Other than the 90% of respondents who said they were of a white British ethnicity, 4% were either a white-Other or white-Irish ethnic group.
Base: 236
Q23: If you have answered ‘Yes’ to Q15 (Does anyone living in your current home need to move to alternative housing within the parish in the next five years?), please complete ‘part two’ of this survey. If you have answered ‘No’ you do not need to complete ‘part two’. Do you need to complete ‘part two’?
Chart 21:
Although most respondents, 212 people or 82%, did not need to go on and answer Part 2 of the survey, 46 people (18%) did.
Base: 258
Table 3:
Part 2 Marshfield Housing Needs Survey
Respondents were asked to complete this section only if:
- There is someone in their current home who needs to move to alternative housing within the parish in the next five years
- They have moved away due to difficulty in finding affordable housing in Marshfield parish but wish to return
- They work in Marshfield and have to travel some distance to their place of work and wish to live in the parish but cannot afford to do so
There were 46 responses for Part 2, a much reduced base than those from Q1-23, however not all respondents answered all questions. The complete response count for all questions relating to Part 2 can be found in Appendix 11.
The following information illustrates the type of household looking to move, the minimum number of bedrooms they require, the type of tenure respondents prefer and reasons for wanting to move.
Q24: Where does the household needing to move currently live?
Chart 22:
Just under three quarters of those answering the question, 29 responses or 73%, currently live as a single household in the parish of Marshfield.
A further 8 responses were from households from outside of the area.
Three households (8%) were currently living with another household in Marshfield.
Base: 40
Table 4:
Q25: If you / they currently live in Marshfield Parish, how long have you / they lived there?
Chart 23:
Almost three quarters of respondents, 30 or 73%, have lived in the parish for 5 years or more:
3 households had lived in the parish between 1-3 years and 2 for 3-5 years.
Base: 41
Table 5:
Q26: If you plan to return to Marshfield Parish, how long ago did you / they move away?
Chart 24:
For most of those responding, (over three quarters – 76% or 26 people), this question did not apply.
- 2 people had been away from the parish for 6 months or less
- For 2 people this had been over 5 years
- 4 people had lived elsewhere for 1-3 years
Base: 34
Table 6:
Q27: If you plan to return to Marshfield Parish, how long did you / they previously live there?
Chart 25:
Again, as with Q26 – for most respondents, (just under three quarters – 71% or 24 people), this question did not apply.
8 respondents had previously lived in Marshfield for 5 years or more:
One respondent had been living there for 6 months or less and another for between 1-3 years.
Base: 34
Table 7:
Q28: Do you or any member of your household work in Marshfield Parish?
Chart 26:
For just over half of those responding (21 or 53%) either they or a household member did work in Marshfield
For just under half (19 or 48%), no one in the household worked in the parish.
Base: 40
Table 8:
Q29: How long have you / they worked in the parish?
Chart 27:
Most households, 16 or 73%, have had a member working in the parish for 5 or more years.
Another 3 households have someone who’s worked in Marshfield for 3-5 years and 3 people have worked there for more than 6 months.
Table 9: Base: 22
Q30: When does the household need to move?
Chart 28:
Almost 90% of those answering the question (20 responses) need to move in the next 5 years:
48% in the next 2 years and 40% in 2-5 years (17 responses).
Base: 42
Table 10:
Q31: What is the minimum number of bedrooms you require?
Chart 29:
Over 90% of respondents required either a 2-bed property (23 or 55%) or a 3-bed (15 or 36%):
3 people needed a 1-bed or studio (bedsit) and 1 household needed a 4-bedroom or larger property.
Base: 42
Table 11:
Q32: What type of household are you?
Chart 30:
Those with children made up 56% of all responses: either 2-parent households (20 or 47%) or single-parents (4 or 9%).
People without children made up 37% of the total: couples were 16%, single individuals 14% or retired couples 7%.
Base: 43
Table 12:
Q32a: Two people ticked the ‘Other’ option but 6 comments were left to describe the type of household they were:
- 2 responses were from single person households
- One response was from a 2-parent family, albeit with adult children
- One was from a soon-to-be couple
- One was from an adult who lived with their parents
- One was from a parent who required a home for when their child stays with them
Q33: Are you on the South Gloucestershire housing register or waiting list (Homechoice)?
Chart 31:
None of those who responded to this question were on South Gloucestershire Council’s Homechoice housing waiting list.
Base: 43
Table 13:
Q34: Which of the following would you prefer?
Chart 32:
The preference for two thirds of respondents (23 or 66%) was to buy on the private housing market whilst a quarter would prefer to either rent from a housing association (14%) or rent/buy a shared ownership property from one (11%).
The self-build option drew interest from 2 respondents.
Base: 35
Table 14:
Q35: Please indicate the age and gender of each person who needs to move to or within the Parish?
The data provided by respondents and represented in the table below, will be used to analyse their individual housing need and eligibility (including the number of bedrooms).
Table 15:
Q36: What type of accommodation do you require?
Chart 33:
Most of those responding, two thirds (66% or in 27 responses), said the type of accommodation that they required was a house:
10% (4) needed a flat or maisonette
5% (2%) wanted a bungalow and the same number said retirement housing
Base: 41
Table 16:
Six of those responding gave ‘Other’ as their response and 8 comments were subsequently provided:
- 5 of these comments said that they required a house, a flat or a maisonette
- One said a 2-bed flat
- One said a bungalow / retirement housing
- Another said ‘Any’ type of housing
Q37: What is your main reason for needing housing within Marshfield?
Chart 35:
Base: 42
The option which received the highest score was ‘Other’: see over page for a breakdown of comments made related to this option..
- Ten respondents (24%) gave their main reason for needing housing in Marshfield as to set-up independent accommodation
- Secure accommodation was the driver for a further 5 people or in 12% of responses
- Whilst three people needed larger accommodation, three others needed smaller
- Three people gave needing to be closer to work as their reason for needing housing
- Two people required properties that could be physically adapted
With 16 or 38% of responses, the ‘Other’ option was a popular choice. Sixteen comments were made:
- 5 comments made reference to having ties to the village
- In 5 comments, people were needing ‘secure accommodation’
- Cheaper properties were needed by 3 respondents
- Family and work ties were each referenced in 3 comments
- Needing to set-up independent accommodation was noted in 3 comments
- The need to move into a retirement-living property was noted in 2 comments
- 2 people needed larger properties
- 2 people said they needed to change tenure
- 1 person was a carer for a parent living in Marshfield
Table 17: Other option – comments
But maintain social and family ties including responsibility as carer for elderly parent |
Need larger, cheaper, secure accommodation |
Need to change tenure & Need to be closer to employment |
Need different 2 bed bungalow with garage. I’ve retired and want to stay in Marshfield why should I want to move as I was born & breed and lived all my life in Marshfield. Why should I be forced to move? The Almshouses only same as bungalows at Withymead there is NO other accommodation suitable to older person in the village. TIME THERE WAS |
Wish to return to village I grew up in |
In future a nursing home or retirement home |
Need larger accommodation – after 11 years of living in Marshfield we sadly have to leave as our landlord requires use of the property? A larger property is also needed |
Need smaller accommodation/need a cheaper home. Daughter and partner likely to move out. I will be unable to afford and not need large house |
Like it |
Would like to return to the village |
Need to be closer to employment/need to set up independent accommodation |
Need secure accommodation and need to set up independent accommodation |
Need to change tenure – if the landlord needs us to |
Family (both mine and my husbands) all live here. I and my husband have lived here our entire lives and work here |
My two daughters need affordable homes, they have lived in Marshfield all their lives |
Need a cheaper home, secure accommodation & to set up independent accommodation |
Base: 16
Financial Information
The financial information provided will assist in understanding and identifying ‘actual’ need as opposed to any aspiration of the respondent’s household and is key to determining if any new local homes are required to meet any local need.
Affordability in housing terms is determined by comparing a household’s income with the cost of meeting its housing need in the local market. To achieve this, we asked for information on both the type and size of home residents of Marshfield need and the income they have to pay for it.
Information on savings and deposits helps the analysis of whether a household can meet their housing requirements on the open market or require some sort of subsidised affordable housing.
Q38: If you wish to buy a home, what is the maximum price you could afford?
Chart 36
Base: 38
The maximum price respondents can afford is spread across a range of price categories: 17 of the 23 options were chosen.
Table 18 (below) shows that 16 respondents (45%) stated that they could afford a property in excess of £300,000 and 21 (67%) could afford one over £200,000.
Twenty-two responses (60%) indicated they could afford a home under £300,000: 14 under £200,000 (38%).
Three respondents stated that they could afford a property of £74,999 or under (8%), while eleven respondents could afford a property between £100,000 and £199,999 (30%).
Table 18: Buying a home – what is the maximum you could afford?
Q39: If you wish to buy a home, please state what savings or financial support you have to use as a deposit?
The data provided by respondents and represented in the graph and table below, will be used to analyse their individual housing need, eligibility (including the number of bedrooms) and their position in terms of affordability for either buying, part-renting/buying (shared ownership) or renting.
Chart 37:
Base: 36
The amount of savings or financial support respondents have as a deposit is spread across a range of price options. Ten respondents have savings or financial support of less than £9,999 (28%) whilst another ten respondents have savings or financial support greater than £30,000 (28%).
Table 19:
Q40: If you wish to rent a home, what is the maximum monthly rent you could afford?
The data provided by respondents and represented in the graph and table below, will be used to analyse their individual housing need, eligibility (including the number of bedrooms) and their position in terms of affordability for renting.
Chart: 38
Base: 24
The maximum amount respondents can afford to pay as monthly rent is spread across a range of 9 price categories.
The table below shows that 6 respondents (25%) could afford a maximum monthly rent of £501-£600, 4 respondents (17%) could afford up to £401-£500 whilst the same number (4 or 17%) could afford £801-£900.
Three responses (13%) said that they could afford £400 or less whereas another 3 could manage rent of £601-£700.
Table: 20
Q41: What is the total monthly take home income (after deductions such as national insurance and tax) of everybody who is responsible for the cost of housing (rent or mortgage)?
Chart: 39
Base: 24
The 35 responses to this question covered 15 separate options for total household monthly income after deductions. Two people had incomes per month of either less than £499 or in the £500-749 range.
Just under half of all respondents (16 responses or 45%) were in the £1,000-1,999 range: 6 from £1,000-£1,249, 4 from £1,250-£1,499, 4 from £1,500-1,749 and 2 from £1,750-£1,999.
Half of those responding earned between £2,000 and over £4,000 per month (17 or 50%): 3 from £2,000-£2,500 (9%), 4 from £2500-£2,999 (12%), 4 from £3,000-£3,500 (12%) and 6 over £3,500 (17%) including 4 over £4,000.
Table: 21
Q42: Please use this box to provide any other comments
Twenty comments were made: 17 of these provided personal contact information in case further contact about housing need was required
- Analysis of Part 2
- Objective
The purpose of this housing needs survey is to indicate the level and type of Affordable Housing required for those households that need to move house within Marshfield Parish within the next five years. Data provided for Part 2 will also help identify the number of households who wish to move and who can meet their own housing needs in the private market.
- Methodology of assessing appropriate housing tenure
14.1 A range of financial information (set out below) has been used to assess the appropriate housing tenure for each case and this is then cross-referenced with the financial and other household information provided on the questionnaire.
- South Gloucestershire council’s affordability criteria
- House prices and private rents in Marshfield
- Mortgage products available for first time buyers
For further details of the above please see Appendix 8
14.2 For the purposes of identifying Affordable Housing need, the issue of whether or not a household is currently adequately housed, regardless of their financial capability, has not been fully explored. For example, some of the respondents have been deemed to be in need of affordable housing, based on the financial information that they submitted, despite currently being housed in privately rented accommodation.
14.3 A household’s income, savings and the state of the housing market are key factors in assessing their need for affordable housing. The assessment of affordability requires household incomes and savings to be measured against prices of property of a suitable size, type and location, whether rented or home ownership. However, depending upon tenure there will be additional factors that will impact upon the cost of acquiring the right to occupy the property. Every households’ income and deposit details have been assessed to establish if they can afford to buy or rent a home which meets their needs in the private sector.
14.4 The National Planning Policy Framework requires local authorities to prepare a Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) to assess local housing need. A wider Bristol Housing Market Area comprising Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset has been identified and an independent assessment carried out. The West of England SHMA 2015 assumes an affordability criterion of a household’s housing costs not exceeding 35% of their gross income. It is on this basis that affordability has been assessed in this report, to be consistent with assumptions made in the Local Plan policy.
14.5 For the purpose of this survey, median and lower quartile values were calculated from the sold values for each size of property sold in Marshfield during the period October 2016 – July 2018, where the sales details registered with the Land Registry are for postcodes defining Marshfield Parish.
Information from www.rightmove.co.uk, www.zoopla.co.uk and www.mouseprices.com was used to inform bedroom size. The average and lower quartile values of properties sold in Marshfield Parish in the 24 months to July 2018 are shown in table on page 11.
- There are sometimes delays in registrations of sales and this may result in under-counting of property sales.
- The average price of properties sold does not necessarily reflect the average value of all properties in the parish.
14.6 Market rent values were also calculated using data from www.rightmove.co.uk,. Median and lower quartile values were calculated based on these for each property size and are shown in table Section 9: (also on page 11).
14.7 The average house prices were used to calculate monthly mortgage payments at both an introductory and standard variable rate. To this an average monthly service charge was added for one and two bed flats. These totalled housing costs were used to generate the required monthly income for each property type and size where total housing cost is 35% of the income required. In the same way average rental values were used to calculate the required monthly income for each property type and size. For further details of the required monthly income please see Appendix 10.
14.8 Part 2 of the questionnaire used to inform this survey asked for household financial information. Q41 asked for total monthly take-home pay, after deductions, i.e. net income, as this is the amount of money households have available to meet their actual housing costs. An assessment can then be made of households’ ability to meet local rents and home ownership costs and leave them with enough money to live on. If a household’s net monthly income is insufficient to meet local private rents or home ownership costs, it indicates that the household is likely to be in need of affordable housing.
14.9 Individuals have been assessed against the housing need criteria for the council’s housing register, see Appendix 9.
The number of bedrooms people have said that they would like may not be the same as the number the council criteria considers they need.
Furthermore those who have been assessed as able to afford private rented accommodation, (even when their preference is home ownership) would not be assessed as in Affordable Housing need.
- Housing needs
15.1 Forty-six households completed Part 2 of the survey, indicating their wish/need to move to an alternative home in Marshfield Parish. Of these respondents to Part 2:
- 38 said they lived in the parish at the time when they completed the survey
- 7 others worked in the parish but did not currently live there
- 1 individual had previously lived in Marshfield parish
Other notable factors:
- 13 respondents overall told us that they worked in Marshfield
- 13 people had family who lived in the village: of which just one did not currently live in the village themselves
- 4 respondents both lived and worked AND had family living in Marshfield
- Overall, 8 people (with varying household situations) expressed an interest in downsizing, retirement or nursing homes, an adaptable property or the option of bungalow (either in the private housing market or otherwise).
15.2 Each household’s income details, including savings, have been assessed to establish if they can afford to buy or rent a home in the private sector to suit their needs.
15.3 Of the 46 households who completed Part 2 of the questionnaire, 10 respondents did not provide enough financial or household data for an assessment of their affordable housing need to be made.
- Two respondents did not provide details of their income, deposit availability, purchase range, rental price range or any details of the household needing to move.
- A further seven households only provided partial information about their purchase range but omitted income, deposit availability or rental price range and could not therefore be assessed.
- One other respondent did not provide information regarding the household that needed to move and so an assessment could not be made but did provide evidence of a large available deposit and a monthly income figure that would allow for any housing need to be met by access to the private rental market.
- Of the ten households referenced above, seven owned their current properties outright and would be considered to have sufficient equity within those properties to meet their own housing needs.
- Three of the ten respondents also told us that they required smaller or physically adapted properties.
- Two of these ten households indicated that an additional household wanted to ‘set-up independent accommodation’ but then did not provide the information required to assess that household.
15.4 A further 20 households are deemed financially capable of meeting their own housing need on the open market, either through market purchase or rent.
- 6 of these respondents owned their current properties outright and so would be able to purchase on the open market by using the equity accumulated within those properties. Of these, 5 also had large deposits and a further 3 expressed interest in retirement properties, bungalows or smaller accommodation.
- Two of the above households indicated that there was 2 additional households who also needed to move but it was unclear as to their monthly income. Whilst the main household would be able to meet its housing need, the 2 other additional households could not be assessed but could be in affordable housing need of either a 2-bedroom property or 2 no. 1-bed units.
- 4 households were able to meet their housing need either through a purchase on the open market with a mortgage on the lower interest rate or through having sufficient income to be able to rent on the private market.
- 8 households were assessed as being able to meet the market rents for Marshfield Parish given the monthly income data that they provided.
15.5 In the answers from 3 respondents, a lack of clarity about the income of the additional households has led to these being considered as possibly both either able to meet their needs through market rent or likely to be in affordable housing need. In both cases it would appear that adult children are looking to set-up independent accommodation but whether this is for separate individual units or (2 x 1-beds for each household) or for a joint household (1 x 2-bed for each), was not made clear.
An assumption has been made that, given the request at the start of Part 2 of the survey for additional households to complete a separate survey, these form the Main Household and must be assessed on what information is provided. All of the 3 cases were deemed able to meet their housing needs on the open market through rental or purchase.
Table 8: Summary of Part 2 respondents financial means to afford suitable housing | |
No financial data provided including monthly income details: unable to assess | 8 |
No details of household needing to move provided | 2 |
Financially capable of market purchase or market rent | 18 |
Miscellaneous response: additional households had responded separately | 1 |
In Affordable Housing Need | 17 |
Total | 46 |
15.6 Of the 17 individual households who have been assessed as in affordable housing need, 13 do not have sufficient income and/or deposit for a shared ownership property and would require affordable rented accommodation.
15.7 Overall there are 17 households assessed to be in Affordable Housing need.
Table 9: Individuals in Affordable Housing Need by Tenure and period move is required within | ||||
Tenure | Within 2 years | 2-5 years | 5 years or more | Not specified |
Social rented accommodation | 6 | 7 | ||
Shared Ownership | 2 | 1 | 1 |
15.9 None of those assessed to be in Affordable Housing need were registered on South Gloucestershire Council’s HomeChoice system.
15.10 The reasons for their need to move home provided by respondents that were assessed to be either be in Affordable Housing need or likely to be in need are:
- Need secure accommodation (6)
- Need to set up independent accommodation (7)
- Other : Need smaller/ cheaper accommodation; Need cheaper accommodation; Would like to return to the village; Need to change tenure; Need to be closer to employment
15.11 The household makeup and ages of those considered to be in Affordable Housing need and the respondents likely to be in need are:
- 4 single parents
- 4 families
- 3 sets of adults living with parents
- 3 couples
- 2 single
- 1 person in a shared house
15.12 This report does not take into account the number of ‘hidden households’ that may be in need of new housing within the village but did not complete the survey or state a need to move in the survey. A hidden household includes everyone who lives as part of a household and is likely to establish independent accommodation during the next two years.
15.13 Although each of the 17 households assessed as being in or likely to be in Affordable Housing need stated their preferred housing tenure and number of bedrooms, they were actually assessed on the size of accommodation they require (see Appendix 9) and on which they could afford.
Affordable Housing does not usually allow for extra or spare bedrooms. The assessment also showed that some of the respondents would not be able to afford their tenure of choice.
15.14 Whilst a household may have an aspiration to buy on the open market, the income and deposit information supplied may indicate that this is unlikely to be achieved given market conditions and their financial capability. The purpose of the survey is to establish housing need rather than aspiration and to also take account of the actual number of bedrooms that are required as opposed to what is desired. It is therefore acknowledged those households who have been assessed as being in need of Affordable Housing may not choose to take the allotted tenure if their preference is to buy on the open market, self-build or shared ownership.
15.15 Table 11 provides a summary of the number of affordable homes needed by tenure and bedroom size. The exact ratio and type and size of homes could change over time due to families growing and changing circumstances.
Table 11: Affordable homes needed by tenure and size | |||
Tenure | 1bf | 2bf or 2bh | 3bh |
Social rented | 7 | 4 | 2 |
Shared ownership | 3 | 1 | |
Total | 10 | 5 | 2 |
16. Identified need on the open market
16.1 Of those responding to Part 2 of the survey, 18 were assessed as being financially able to meet their housing needs either through purchase or rent on the open housing market.
- One household expressed no preference on whether to purchase or rent etc but did own their 2-bed property, had a large deposit and was looking for a bungalow
- Two expressed no preference on whether to purchase or rent etc but did have sufficient monthly income to meet private rent levels
- A further two expressed the wish to purchase on the open market but had more than adequate income to meet private rent levels
- Eight households expressed the wish to purchase on the open market and had both the deposit and monthly income to do so
- One expressed the wish to purchase on the open market and had the deposit and owned their 4-bed property outright
- Two households expressed the wish to purchase on the open market, had close to the full deposit and did have adequate income to meet mortgage levels
- Two expressed the preference for shared-ownership properties but had more than adequate income to meet private rent levels
Table 12 below identifies the number and type of properties required by those who can afford to meet their housing needs through purchase on the open market and by when.
Table 12: Open Market Housing Need | |||
Buy Open Market | Within 2 years | 2-5 years from now | In 5 years or more |
Considered financially capable of meeting own housing needs | 2-bed 2 x 3-bed 4+-bed | 2-bed; 2-bed bungalow; 3-bed | 1-bed retirement property; 2 x 3-bed |
Although deemed financially capable of meeting own housing needs, households may not be able to purchase the type of property they want | 3-bed | 2-bed | |
Total | 1 x 2-bed 3 x 3-bed 1 x 4+-bed | 2 x 2-bed 2-bed bungalow 3-bed | 1-bed 2 x 3-beds |
17. Conclusion
- 17.1 based on an analysis of the households who responded to Part 2 of this survey, there are 17 households who need of alternative accommodation to remain in Marshfield Parish but who cannot meet their needs on the open market.
- Further analysis reveals that 13 of these households would require affordable rented housing (7x 1 bed flats, 4 x 2 bed and 2 x 3 bed house) and two could afford to purchase a shared ownership property in the size range required (3x 1bed and 1x 2 bed) although one of these was borderline and may require affordable rented housing. The size and tenure required did not always meet the aspirations of the respondents.
- Recommendation
- There is evidence to demonstrate there is an unmet need for Affordable Housing for households with a local connection to Marshfield Parish.
- It is recommended that the parish council endorse the findings of this report which in turn can be used to help assist the parish when considering any future proposals or planning applications for a rural exceptions site for Affordable Housing in Marshfield.
Appendix 1
Affordable Housing Needs Survey for Marshfield Parish 2018 – cover letter
Marshfield Parish Council, with South Gloucestershire Council, are undertaking a Housing Needs Survey. This will establish the current need for affordable housing in the parish as the survey undertaken in 2013 is now out of date.
The survey is completely anonymous and no personal information that could identify your household will be shared with anyone including the Parish Council.
The survey is in two parts:
Part one. If every household could please complete this part as it will provide essential background information on the community and its housing profile.
Part two. Please complete only if your household matches one of the following:
- If you, or someone living with you, wants to move within the next five years and wants to stay in Marshfield
- You have family or friends who have moved away and would like to return to Marshfield
c) If you work within the parish and would like to move to the parish.
If there is more than one family living in the same house, each family would have to complete a separate survey.
This information will help us more accurately estimate the need for affordable housing. If this survey establishes a need, then consideration will be given to developing a rural affordable exception site, if a suitable site can be found.
The survey should be returned by Monday Sept 3rd to the freepost address provided or can be completed online by visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/consultation
You can also drop it off at Tolzey Hall, Central Stores, Artingstalls Butchers or the Community Centre
To answer any questions you may have there will be a Parish Council/South Gloucestershire team at the Boules Event at the Community Centre on July 7th from 11.00 – 2.00pm and at the Village Day at Withymead on August 18th from 2.00 – 4.00pm
Overleaf there is a list of frequently asked questions to help you understand and complete the survey, or should you have any further queries, or require extra copies please contact:
Housing Enabling Team tel. 01454 865599 or email HousingEnabling@southglos.gov.uk
Pete Heffernan, Enabling Projects Officer 01454 865354 or email:
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is affordable housing?
Affordable housing is also referred to as social housing. Affordable housing is managed by a housing association and provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the private market. Affordable housing can be for rent or shared ownership (where you can buy a share of your home from a housing association and pay rent on the remaining equity). Eligibility is determined with regards to local incomes and local house prices.
- Is the information I provide confidential?
Yes. The survey is anonymous. Please be assured any information you provide is confidential.
- Who should complete Part one of the questionnaire and why?
Every household in the parish of Marshfield is asked to complete Part 1 of the questionnaire. This gives us detailed background information on the community, its population and its housing profile.
- Who should complete Part two of the questionnaire and why?
- If your whole household or someone living in your household as a separate household, wants to move in the next five years and stay living in the parish. Please ensure that if more than one household wishes to move into separate accommodation, each household completes a separate survey.
- If you have family or friends who have moved away from the parish and would like to return, please encourage them to complete a questionnaire as well.
- If you work in the parish and want to move to the parish.
This tells us all about the housing needs in the parish and lets us find out if any of those needs cannot be met through the current housing supply.
- What is meant by a separate household?
If you currently have non-dependent children or other adults living with you (or away at university), they count as a separate household IF they wish to find a home of their own in the next five years.
For example; if your 25 year old son lives at home now but would like to move into his own home in Marshfield he counts as a separate household and his housing needs should be recorded in Part 2 of the survey form, even if the rest of the household do not wish to move.
- Why must I provide personal financial information in Part two?
The information on income and savings are key to determining if any new affordable homes are required to meet local housing need. Affordability in housing terms is determined by comparing a household’s income with the cost of meeting its housing need in the local market. This can only be done if we have information on both the type and size of home you need to move into and the income you have to pay for it.
- Does my home fall within the boundary of Marshfield parish?
A map of Marshfield parish can be found through the following link on the South Gloucestershire Council website www.southglos.gov.uk/consultation
- What is a rural affordable housing exception site?
A rural exception site allows the development of affordable housing on a site adjoined or closely related to a settlement, which would not normally be used for housing. Permission will be granted for limited development in exceptional circumstances where a clear need for housing has been proven. The properties built on this site will be affordable, and available in perpetuity to those with a strong connection to the local area. A small number of market houses may be included in a rural exception site in order to make it economically viable. If at the time of re-letting vacant affordable homes, there are no applicants who meet the local connection criterion, priority will be given to applicants with a local connection to neighbouring Parishes and thereafter the whole District of South Gloucestershire.
- What are Starter Homes?
The Government has announced a new Starter Homes initiative in England, which aims to help first-time buyers below the age of 40 years to purchase a new-build home with a minimum 20% discount off the market price. The intention is to amend planning rules to allow Starter Homes to be built on rural exception sites, which will allow local areas to allocate more sites for Starter Homes specifically for people who already live in the area, or have an existing family or employment connection to the area. It is likely that some or all of the discount would have to be passed on if the property was sold within 15 years.
- What is low-cost market housing?
Housing which does not meet the definition of affordable housing but is the lower end of the market. There are also Government initiatives such as Help-to-Buy, which provide loan opportunities for purchasers.
- What housing needs does this questionnaire seek to collect data about?
The aim of this questionnaire is to get a better understanding of supply and demand for all tenures. The tenures are owner occupation, private renting, shared ownership, affordable rent and social renting. Shared ownership, affordable rent and social renting are sometimes referred to as ‘affordable housing’. Survey and other data including official demographic trends will be collected and analysed. From this we will be able to demonstrate what mix of tenure sizes and types of home are needed to help the whole village become as sustainable as possible. By sustainable we mean that the size and type of housing across the whole village will be in step with demand in the long term and will be appropriate to sustain local services and businesses.
- What is self-build housing or custom built housing?
Self-build housing is where a person is involved in some way in the production of their new home rather than buying from a speculative home builder. Self-build accommodation can be provided as affordable or as private market housing. Further information on self-build can be found through the following link on the South Gloucestershire Council website – https://www.southglos.gov.uk/housing/custom-build/
- What is a local connection?
Affordable housing built on an exception site is subject to the council’s localconnection criteria. The eligibility criteria are that a person who, at the date of the dwelling being advertised on Homechoice:
- Has been a resident within the Parish of Marshfield for a continuous period of three years within the preceding five years or six months in the preceding twelve months or
- Is permanently employed within the Parish of Marshfield or is moving to the Parish to take up an offer of permanent employment or
- Has a close family member (e.g. parent or child or sibling) who is living and has lived in the Parish of Marshfield for a continuous period of five years immediately preceding the date of advertising the Affordable Dwelling.
Appendix 2
Affordable Housing Needs Survey for the Parish of Marshfield |
ONLINE version: Please complete this survey to help us assess housing needs in Marshfield. The deadline for returning the survey is Monday 3 September 2018. |
Q1 | Please enter the unique code which is printed on the bottom left corner of paper copy you have received. This will be a four digit number followed by a capital letter. This number does not identify you and will only be used to identify duplicate responses. A survey will only be considered as part of this research if a valid code is provided. Paper copies of this survey have been delivered to every household in Marshfield.If you have not received a survey through the post and wish to complete the online survey please contact 01454 865354 or email HousingEnabling@southglos.gov.uk |
____________________________________________________________________________________________ |
PAPER Version: Please complete this survey to help us assess housing needs in Marshfield. Any personal information you supply will be used to provide information for the Marshfield Housing Needs Survey Report and summary information on rural housing need. No data will be published which can identify an individual. Information will be processed and held by Snap Surveys Ltd and South Gloucestershire Council in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Anonymous data and comments may be used for reports and shared with the public and the council’s partners. You can complete the survey online at www.southglos.gov.uk/consultation or complete this form and post it using the FREEPOST address: FREEPOST Plus RTXL-YHGY-GSYS, South Gloucestershire Council, Corporate Research and Consultation, Housing Need Survey, Council Offices, Badminton Road, Yate, Bristol BS37 5AF. Please complete this survey before Monday 3 September 2018. |
PART ONE – Your home and your household |
Q2 | Is this address your main home? (Please tick one box) | ||||
q | Yes, main home | q | No, second home |
Q3 | How would you describe your current home? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | House | q | Flat/ apartment | q | Caravan/ mobile home | |||
q | Bungalow | q | Sheltered/ retirement | q | Other |
Other, please specify: | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Q4 | Is your current home? (Please tick one box) | ||||||||
q | Owned outright | q | Tied to a job | q | Other | ||||
q | Owned with a mortgage | q | Rented from a housing association | ||||||
q | Shared ownership | q | Rented from a private landlord |
Other, please specify: | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Q5 | How many people live in this home? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | 1 | q | 4 | q | 7 | |||
q | 2 | q | 5 | q | 8 | |||
q | 3 | q | 6 | q | 9+ |
Q6 | How many bedrooms are there in this home? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | 1 | q | 3 | q | 5 | |||
q | 2 | q | 4 | q | Other |
Q7 | Please confirm how many households live in this home: (Please tick one box) (For the purpose of this survey, anyone over 18 living with you, either on their own or with a partner and/or family, or spending time away from home for educational purposes, counts as a separate household IF they wish to find a home of their own in the next 5 years). * See question 5 of the FAQs for a definition of separate household. | |||||||
q | 1 | q | 2 | q | 3 or more |
Q8 | What type of household are you? (Please tick more than one if applicable) | ||||||||||
q | One person household | q | Lone parent family | q | Retired couple | q | Shared house | ||||
q | Two parent family | q | Couple | q | Retired single | q | Other |
Other, please specify: | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Q9 | What is your connection to Marshfield Parish? (Please tick more than one if applicable) | |||||||
q | Currently living in this Parish | q | Work in Parish | q | Other | |||
q | Previously lived in this Parish | q | Family live in Parish |
Other, please specify: | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Q10 | Has your home been adapted to make it more suitable for a household member(s) with physical disabilities? | ||||
q | Yes | q | No |
Q11 | Will your current home need adapting to make it more suitable for a household member(s) with physical disabilities in the next five years? | ||||
q | Yes | q | No |
Q12 | Are you in favour of a small number of affordable homes being developed for local people if there is a proven need? | ||||
q | Yes | q | Don’t know | ||
q | No |
Q13 | If an affordable housing need is identified in this Parish, where do you think a scheme should be developed or do you know of any possible sites? |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Q14 | Has anyone from your family moved away in the last five years due to difficulty finding suitable housing in the parish? | ||||
q | Yes | q | Don’t know | ||
q | No |
If you answered ‘Yes’ to the question above, and that household wishes to move back to this parish, please contact us on 01454 865354 or email HousingEnabling@southglos.gov.uk for an extra form. |
Q15 | Does anyone living in your current home need to move to alternative housing within the parish in the next five years? (Please tick one box) | ||||
q | Yes | q | No |
Q16 | Please tell us who needs to move (Please tick one box) | ||||
q | Whole household needs to move together | q | Both main household and additional household(s) need to move into separate homes | ||
q | Only additional household(s) need to move |
Q17 | Please use this space to make any comments regarding this survey or on the issue of affordable rural housing: |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
About you |
This section is really important as it helps us to understand of the needs of people who use the service. This information will remain confidential and will be used for analysis purposes only. |
Q18 | Please tell us your postcode: |
_____________________________________ |
Q19 | Your gender: | |||||||
q | Female | q | Male | q | Prefer not to say |
Q20 | Your age: | |||||||
q | 18 and under | q | 45-64 | q | Prefer not to say | |||
q | 19-44 | q | 65 and over |
Q21 | Do you consider yourself to be disabled? | |||||||
q | Yes | q | No | q | Prefer not to say |
Q22 | Your ethnicity: | |||||||
q | Arab | q | Black/African/Caribbean/Black British – Caribbean | q | White – English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British | |||
q | Asian/Asian British – Bangladeshi | q | Black/African/Caribbean/Black British – Other (please state) | q | White – Irish | |||
q | Asian/Asian British – Indian | q | Gypsy or Traveller of Irish Heritage | q | White – Other (please state) | |||
q | Asian/Asian British – Pakistani | q | Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Groups – White & Asian | q | Other ethnic group (please state) | |||
q | Asian/Asian British – Chinese | q | Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Groups – White & Black African | q | Prefer not to say | |||
q | Asian/Asian British – Other (please state) | q | Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Groups – White & Black Caribbean | |||||
q | Black/African/Caribbean/Black British – African | q | Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Groups – Other (please state) |
Any personal information that you have supplied will be held by South Gloucestershire Council in accordance with the Data Protection Act. This information will only be used as part of this exercise and personal information will not be published or passed onto any other organisation. |
Thank you for completing ‘Part one’ of this survey. If you have answered ‘Yes’ to Q14/15 please complete ‘part two’ of this survey. If you have answered ‘No’ you do not need to complete ‘part two’. If you have answered ‘No’, thank you for your time. Please post your survey to the freepost address at the end of this survey. |
Thank you for completing ‘Part one’ of this survey. |
Q23 | Do you need to complete ‘part two’? | ||||
q | Yes – take me to ‘part two’ | q | No – skip to the end |
PART TWO – Housing Needs Please only complete this section if: There is someone in your current home who needs to move to alternative housing within the parish in the next five years.You have moved away due to difficulty in finding affordable housing in Marshfield parish but wish to returnYou work in Marshfield and have to travel some distance to your place of work and wish to live in the parish but cannot afford to do so |
For all the remaining questions, please ensure the answers relate only to the household who needs to move to or within this parish. If more than one household needs to move into separate accommodation, please complete a separate survey. For further information or additional copies of this survey: Phone 01454 8655599 or email HousingEnabling@southglos.gov.uk |
Your connection to the parish |
Q24 | Where does the household needing to move currently live? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | Together as one household in this parish | q | With another household in this parish Outside the parish | q | Outside this parish |
Q25 | If you / they currently live in Marshfield Parish, how long have you / they lived there? (Please tick one box) | ||||||||
q | 0 – 6 months | q | 1 – 3 years | q | 5 years plus | ||||
q | 6 – 12 months | q | 3 – 5 years | q | Does not apply |
Q26 | If you plan to return to Marshfield Parish, how long ago did you / they move away? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | 0 – 6 months | q | 1 – 3 years | q | 5 years plus | |||
q | 6 – 12 months | q | 3 – 5 years | q | Does not apply |
Q27 | If you plan to return to Marshfield Parish, how long did you / they previously live there? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | 0 – 6 months | q | 1 – 3 years | q | 5 years plus | |||
q | 6 – 12 months | q | 3 – 5 years | q | Does not apply |
Q28 | Do you or any member of your household work in Marshfield Parish? | |||||||
q | Yes | q | No |
Q29 | How long have you / they worked in the parish? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | 0 – 6 months | q | 1 – 3 years | q | 5 years + | |||
q | 6 – 12 months | q | 3 – 5 years |
Your housing requirements |
Q30 | When does the household need to move? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | Within 2 years | q | 2 – 5 years from now | q | In 5 years or more |
Q31 | What is the minimum number of bedrooms you require? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | 1 bedroom/ bed-sit | q | 3 bedrooms | |||||
q | 2 bedrooms | q | 4 or more bedrooms |
Q32 | What type of household are you? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | One person household | q | Couple | q | Shared house | |||
q | Two parent family | q | Retired couple | q | Other | |||
q | Lone parent family | q | Retired single |
Other, please specify: | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Q33 | Are you on the South Gloucestershire housing register or waiting list (Homechoice)? | |||||||
q | Yes | q | No |
Q34 | Which of the following would you prefer? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | Buy on the private housing market | q | Rent from a private landlord | q | Self-Build Project* | |||
q | Rent from a Housing Association | q | Shared Ownership* |
*For definitions of shared ownership or self-build project please see the FAQs |
Q35 | Please indicate the age and gender of each person who needs to move to or within the Parish: | ||||||||||||||
0-10 | 11-18 | 19-25 | 26-55 | 55+ | Female | Male | |||||||||
You | q | q | q | q | q | q | q |
Other person 1 | q | q | q | q | q | q | q |
Other person 2 | q | q | q | q | q | q | q |
Other person 3 | q | q | q | q | q | q | q |
Other person 4 | q | q | q | q | q | q | q |
Other person 5 | q | q | q | q | q | q | q |
Q36 | What type of accommodation do you require? (Please tick one box) | ||||
q | House | q | Retirement housing | ||
q | Flat/ maisonette | q | Sheltered housing | ||
q | Bungalow | q | Other |
Other, please specify: | |
_____________________________________________________________________ |
Q37 | What is your main reason for needing housing within Marshfield? (Please tick one box) | ||||
q | Need larger accommodation | q | Need to be closer to employment | ||
q | Need smaller accommodation | q | Need to be closer to carer/ dependent | ||
q | Need a cheaper home | q | Need to set up independent accommodation | ||
q | Need secure accommodation | q | Need to be closer to schools Need to be closer to family | ||
q | Need to change tenure | q | Other | ||
q | Need a physically adapted home |
Other, please specify: | |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Financial information Thank you for answering the questions on housing need. The financial information provided in this next section will assist in understanding and identifying ‘actual’ need as opposed to an aspiration of the respondent’s household and is key to determining if any new local homes are required to meet any local need. Affordability in housing terms is determined by comparing a household’s income with the cost of meeting its housing need in the local market. This can only be achieved if we have information on both the type and size of home you need and the income you have to pay for it. | ||
Q38 | If you wish to buy a home, what is the maximum price you could afford? (Please tick one box only) | |||||||
q | £74,999 or less | q | £250,000 – £274,999 | q | £450,000 – £474,999 | |||
q | £75,000 – £99,999 | q | £275,000 – 299,999 | q | £475,000 – £499,999 | |||
q | £100,000 – £124,999 | q | 300,000 – £324,999 | q | £500,000 – £524,999 | |||
q | £125,000 – £149.999 | q | £325,000 – £349,999 | q | £525,000 – £549,999 | |||
q | £150,000 – £174,999 | q | £350,000 – £374,999 | q | £550,000 – £574,999 | |||
q | £175,000 – £199,999 | q | £375,000- £399,999 | q | £575,000 – £599,999 | |||
q | £200,000 – £224,999 | q | £400,000 – £424,999 | q | Over £600,000 | |||
q | £225,000 – £249,999 | q | £425,000 – £449,999 |
(If you can afford a property over £600,000 it is unlikely that you will meet the criteria for affordable housing). |
Q39 | If you wish to buy a home, please state what savings or financial support you have to use as a deposit? (Please tick one box) | ||||||||
q | Less than £9,999 | q | £15,000 – £19,999 | q | £25,000 – £29,999 | ||||
q | £10,000 – £14,999 | q | £20,000 – £24,999 | q | Over £30,000 |
Information on savings and deposits helps to establish whether a household can meet their housing requirements on the open market or require some form of subsidised affordable. |
Q40 | If you wish to rent a home, what is the maximum monthly rent you could afford? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | £400 or less | q | £701 – £800 | q | £1,101 – £1,200 | |||
q | £401 – £500 | q | £801 – £900 | q | £1,201 – £1,300 | |||
q | £501 – £600 | q | £901 – £1,000 | q | £1,301 – £1,400 | |||
q | £601 – £700 | q | £1,001 – £1,100 | q | Over £1,400 |
Q41 | What is the total monthly take home income (after deductions such as national insurance and tax) of everybody who is responsible for the cost of housing (rent or mortgage)? (Please tick one box) | |||||||
q | £499 or less | q | £1,750 – £1,999 | q | £3,250 – £3,499 | |||
q | £500 – £749 | q | £2,000 – £2,249 | q | £3,500 – £3,749 | |||
q | £750 – £999 | q | £2,250 – £2,499 | q | £3,750 – £3,999 | |||
q | £1,000 – £1,249 | q | £2,500 – £2,749 | q | Over £4,000 | |||
q | £1,250 – £1,499 | q | £2,750 – £2,999 | |||||
q | £1,500 – £1,749 | q | £3,000 – £3,249 |
Q42 | Please use this box to provide any other comments. Please provide your contact details in case we need to contact you further about your housing need. |
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
Q43 | Reference number – Admin only |
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
‘Part two’ of the survey is now complete. Thank you for taking the time to respond. Please return the paper survey using the FREEPOST envelope that came with your survey or post to the address below; |
FREEPOST Plus RTXL-YHGY-GSYS, South Gloucestershire Council, Corporate Research and Consultation, Housing Need Survey, Council Offices, Badminton Road, Yate, Bristol BS37 5AF-JXLE-EETT, South Gloucestershire Council, Corporate Research and Consultation, Housing needs survey, Civic Centre, High Street, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 9TR by Monday 3 September 2018. |
Thank you for taking the time to respond to this survey. Now, please press SUBMIT to share your views with us. |
Appendix 3
Definition of Affordable Housing taken from National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
Affordable housing: Social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. Eligibility is determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices. Affordable housing should include provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision.
Social rented housing is owned by local authorities and private registered providers (as defined in section 80 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 20080), for which guideline target rents are determined through the national rent regime. It may also be owned by other persons and provided under equivalent rental arrangements to the above, as agreed with the local authority or with the Homes and Communities Agency.
Affordable rented housing is let by local authorities or private registered providers of social housing to households who are eligible for social rented housing. Affordable Rent is subject to rent controls that require a rent of no more than 80% of the local market rent (including service charges, where applicable)
Intermediate housing is homes for sale and rent provided at a cost above social rent, but below market levels subject to the criteria in the Affordable Housing definition above. These can include shared equity (shared ownership and equity loans), other low cost homes for sale and intermediate rent, but not affordable rented housing.
Homes that do not meet the above definition of affordable housing, such as “low cost market” housing, may not be considered as affordable housing for planning purposes.
Appendix 4
Local Connection Criteria
The eligibility criteria are that a person who, at the date of the affordable dwelling being advertised:
- has been resident within the parish of Wick and Abson for continuous period of three years within the preceding five years or six months in the preceding twelve months other than not of his own choice (not including serving with regular armed forces of the Crown) or
- is permanently employed within the parish of Wick and Abson or is moving to the parish to take up an offer of permanent employment or
- has a close family member (e.g. parent or child or sibling) who is living and has lived in the parish of Wick and Abson for a continuous period of five years immediately preceding the date of advertising the Affordable Dwelling
- because of special circumstances.
These eligibility requirements comply with the Housing Act 1996 Part VI – the Allocation of Housing Accommodation.
Appendix 5
Private Property Sale Prices
The below house prices for 2, 3 and 4 bedroom properties have been obtained from Rightmove and cover the period between October 2016 and July 2018 for the area of Marshfield Parish.
Only one 1 bedroom property had been sold during this time and just two 5+ bedroom properties, which is not a large enough sample to calculate the median or lower quartile.
Appendix 6
Private Property Rental Prices
The below house rental prices for 2, 3 and 4 bedroom properties have been obtained from Rightmove for the area of Marshfield Parish.
1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms | 5+ bedrooms | |
£795.00 | £995.00 | £1,395.00 | £2,450.00 | £6,250.00 | |
£1,100.00 | £800.00 | £1,750.00 | £2,500.00 | £2,000.00 | |
£875.00 | £1,150.00 | £1,350.00 | |||
£750.00 | £1,500.00 | £2,700.00 | |||
£1,360.00 | |||||
Median | £947.50 | £837.50 | £1,395.00 | £2,475.00 | £4,125.00 |
Lower Quartile | £871.25 | £848.75 | £1,483.75 | £2,462.50 | £3,062.50 |
The map below shows the area from which this data has been obtained. Due to a lack of properties currently on the market for renting in Marshfield Parish the area has been extended as shown below.
Appendix 7
Table of current and recent planning applications relating to the Parish of Marshfield
Reference | No. of dwellings | Description | Size/type | Status |
PK18/5150/F | 2 | Erection of 1no. detached dwelling | 4-beds | Awaiting decision |
PK18/4222/F PK18/0800/PNC | 2 | Conversion of existing workshop to form 2no. attached dwellings | 3-beds | Approved with conditions |
PK18/3848/F | 1 | Conversion of existing ancillary annex to 1 no. residential dwelling. | 1-2 beds | Refused – awaiting appeal decision |
PK18/3034/F | 3 | Erection of 3no. 2 bed dwell | 2-bed houses (AH) | Awaiting decision |
PK18/1922/F | 9 | Conversion of redundant public house to create 9no. residential units | 3 x 1 bed, 4 x 2 bed and 2 x 3 bed | Awaiting decision |
PK18/1193/LB PK17/4786/F | 1 | Restoration and conversion of existing barns to form 1 no. dwelling | 3-bed | Approved with conditions |
PK17/5763/F | 2 | Demolition of existing building and erection of 2 no. attached dwellings | 3-beds | Approved with conditions |
PK17/3294/F PK17/3479/LB | 1 | Conversion of former British Legion Hall into 1no. residential dwelling | 3-bed | Approved with conditions |
PK17/0360/F | 2 | Conversion of an existing barn to form 2no. dwellings | 2-beds | Approved with conditions |
PK16/0157/F | 1 | Conversion of stables to form 1no. dwelling | 2-bed | Approved with conditions |
PK15/0586/F | 1 | Conversion of barn to dwelling | 3-bed | Approved with conditions – June 15 |
Appendix 8
Criteria for assessing appropriate tenure
House Price Information
Actual sold prices for the Marshfield Parish area have been used as opposed to “for sale” prices. Information has been obtained from Rightmove and a median and lower quartile house price was established for each house type. Prices have been used between the period of October 2016 to July 2018.
Private rental information
Information was obtained from www.rightmove.co.uk, for the period of October 2016 to July 2018
Mortgage Products
Information was sourced from www.moneysupermarket.com. Details of deposit and interest rates were taken from five top lenders specifically relating to first time buyers. For the purposes of assessing appropriate tenure a 10% deposit and Introductory rate of 1.69% and standard variable rate of 4.53% for mortgage repayment has been used as a baseline.
Affordability criteria
For the purposes of determining affordability and complying with the definition of affordable housing the West of England Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2015 sets out an affordability criterion of a household’s housing costs not exceeding 35% of their gross income.
Affordable Housing for rent
For those households as identified as being in need of affordable housing for rent the council will recommend social rent as the appropriate tenure as opposed to affordable rent so as to comply with the findings of the councils’ SHMA and addendum 2013.
Shared Ownership (a form of affordable housing which is partly sold and partly rented to the occupiers). The council deems a shared ownership product at 40% & 1.5 % to be affordable i.e. no more than 40% will be payable by the purchaser and no more than 1.5% rent will be paid on the unsold equity. It is acknowledged that shared ownership products can be offered at a higher level.
Appendix 9
South Gloucestershire bedroom need criteria
The table below explains the property size which an applicant for the housing register is eligible to bid for and is based on the number of people in a household.
1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | 5 bed | |
Single person | ✓ | ||||
Childless couple (under 60) | ✓ | ||||
Childless couple (over 60) *only eligible for two bedroom older persons housing | ✓ | ✓* | |||
Household with one child | ✓ | ||||
Household with two children of the same gender under 16, or opposite gender under 10 | ✓ | ||||
Household with two children of opposite gender under 16, or opposite gender under 10 | ✓ | ||||
Household with three children | ✓ | ||||
Household with four children *Depending on age/sex of children | ✓ | ✓* | |||
Household with five children *Depending on age/sex of children | ✓ | ✓* | |||
Household with six + children | ✓ | ✓ |
- Household = applicant /joint applicants
- Adult = someone who is 16+. Adults are entitled to their own bedroom. Couple are expected to share a bedroom.
Appendix 10
Required monthly income
Required monthly income (1.69% mortgage) | |||
Bedroom number | House type | Value | Required monthly income |
1 | Flat | Median | £1,625.49 |
1 | Flat | Lower quartile | £1,596.39 |
2 | Flat | Median | £1,820.01 |
2 | Flat | Lower quartile | £1,794.89 |
2 | House | Median | £3,115.35 |
2 | House | Lower quartile | £2,768.55 |
3 | House | Median | £3,379.86 |
3 | House | Lower quartile | £2,939.01 |
4 | House | Median | £5.290.22 |
4 | House | Lower quartile | £3,920.64 |
5 | House | Median | £6,994.35 |
5 | House | Lower quartile | £5,833.94 |
Required monthly income (4.53% mortgage) | |||
Bedroom number | House type | Value | Required monthly income |
1 | Flat | Median | £2,180.07 |
1 | Flat | Lower quartile | £2,140.20 |
2 | Flat | Median | £2431.69 |
2 | Flat | Lower quartile | £2,397.26 |
2 | House | Median | £4,268.23 |
2 | House | Lower quartile | £3,793.09 |
3 | House | Median | £4.630.63 |
3 | House | Lower quartile | £4,026.63 |
4 | House | Median | £7,247.94 |
4 | House | Lower quartile | £5,371.53 |
5 | House | Median | £9,583.39 |
5 | House | Lower quartile | £7,992.87 |
Required monthly income (local market rent) | |||
Bedroom number | House type | Value | Required monthly income |
1 | Flat | Median | £2,143.86 |
1 | Flat | Lower quartile | £1,928.57 |
2 | Flat | Median | £2,071.43 |
2 | Flat | Lower quartile | £2,034.29 |
2 | House | Median | £2,428.57 |
2 | House | Lower quartile | £2,357.14 |
3 | House | Median | £2,714.29 |
3 | House | Lower quartile | £2,621.43 |
4 | House | Median | £4,557.14 |
4 | House | Lower quartile | £4,271.43 |
5 | House | Median | No data |
5 | House | Lower quartile | No data |
Calculations are based on median and lower quartile house values set out in Appendix 5.
Calculations for required monthly income are based on total housing costs which include mortgage payments and services charges where applicable.
Required monthly income is generated for each property type and size where total housing cost is 35% of the income required.
Appendix 11
Marshfield Affordable Housing Needs Survey: counts & % responses
Q2: Is this address your main home? (Please tick one box) | Yes, main home | 249 |
98% | ||
No, second home | 5 | |
Base 254 100% | 2% | |
Q3: How would you describe your current home? (Please tick on… | House | 239 |
94% | ||
Bungalow | 2 | |
1% | ||
Flat/ apartment | 9 | |
4% | ||
Sheltered/ retirement | – | |
– | ||
Caravan/ mobile home | 2 | |
1% | ||
Other | 1 | |
Base 253 100% | 0% |
Q3a: Other, please specify:
Marshfield Parish Almshouses
Q4: Is your current home? (Please tick one box) | Owned outright | 146 |
58% | ||
Owned with a mortgage | 67 | |
26% | ||
Shared ownership | 1 | |
0% | ||
Tied to a job | 1 | |
0% | ||
Rented from a housing association | 13 | |
5% | ||
Rented from a private landlord | 17 | |
7% | ||
Other | 8 | |
Base 253 100% | 3% |
Q4a: Other, please specify:
Owned outright & shared ownership with spouse
Merlin council | |||
My parents own the house | |||
Live with parents | |||
Living in this property rent free according to late partners will, but belongs to his daughter | |||
Student at home in vacations | |||
Living with parents | |||
Student at home in vacations | |||
Q5: How many people live in this home? (Please tick one box) | 1 | 63 | |
25% | |||
2 | 113 | ||
45% | |||
3 | 23 | ||
9% | |||
4 | 42 | ||
17% | |||
5 | 11 | ||
4% | |||
6 | – | ||
– | |||
7 | 1 | ||
0% | |||
8 | – | ||
– | |||
9+ | – | ||
Base 253 100% | – | ||
Q6: How many bedrooms are there in this home? (Please tick on… | 1 | 8 | |
3% | |||
2 | 35 | ||
14% | |||
3 | 98 | ||
39% | |||
4 | 91 | ||
36% | |||
5 | 20 | ||
8% | |||
Other | 2 | ||
1% |
Q7: Please confirm how many households live in this home: (Pl… | 1 | 216 |
89% | ||
2 | 18 | |
7% | ||
3 or more | 10 | |
Base 244 100% | 4% |
Q8: What type of household are you? (Please tick more than on… | One person household | 55 |
22% | ||
Two parent family | 67 | |
26% | ||
Lone parent family | 12 | |
5% | ||
Couple | 46 | |
18% | ||
Retired couple | 63 | |
25% | ||
Retired single | 19 | |
7% | ||
Shared house | 2 | |
1% | ||
Other | 4 | |
Base 255 100% | 2% |
Q8a: Other, please specify:
I am a single parent, living with Auntie who is disabled as nowhere else to live | |||
My parents and sibling visit regularly, but do not live here | |||
2 adults & sons (30+) | |||
Live with parents | |||
Q9: What is your connection to Wick and Abson Parish? (Please… | Currently living in this Parish | 235 | |
92% | |||
Previously lived in this Parish | 12 | ||
5% | |||
Work in Parish | 29 | ||
11% | |||
Family live in Parish | 43 | ||
17% | |||
Other | 8 | ||
Q9a: Other, please specify? | ||
Forced to accept by SGCC | ||
Came here in 1964 – moved to Cornwall in 1997. Came back in 2009, Daughter lives in village, she was born here (some information suppressed to retain anonymity) | ||
Lived in Marshfield for 42 years | ||
Family live in nearby, S. Glos parish | ||
Grew up here | ||
Marshfield – born & bred and lived all life in Marshfield | ||
Born in parish | ||
Live in parish only when working in Bristol part time | ||
Q10: Has your home been adapted to make it more suitable for a… | Yes | 22 |
9% | ||
No | 233 | |
Base 255 100% | 91% | |
Q11: Will your current home need adapting to make it more suit… | Yes | 41 |
17% | ||
No | 203 | |
Base 244 100% | 83% | |
Q12: Are you in favour of a small number of affordable homes b… | Yes | 204 |
82% | ||
No | 22 | |
9% | ||
Don’t know | 23 | |
Base 249 100% | 9% |
Q13: If an Affordable Housing need is identified in this parish, where do you think a scheme should be developed or do you know of any possible sites? | Base: 132 |
No idea | Behind the school |
At the Bristol end of the High Street on either side of the water or on the opposite side in the gap between existing houses and the alms houses | Only build within the current village boundary – the development of e.g. the ex-Crown Pub would be a suitable solution for small flats – and the parking is available at the rear in the existing car park |
Garston Farm | The land behind the Almshouses it is currently believed to be owned by 3 different families who can’t agree on anything |
The Land Trust are investigating suitable sites and we will back their judgement | We are members of the Marshfield Community Land Trust and on July 21st we heard about their proposed site i.e. land owned by Mr. * **** east of Marshfield primary school on A420. We fully support this proposal |
Not on green land | I think beyond the school would be good or the other side of the A420. Just not on the Green Belt to the south |
No not aware of any sites | Not known |
Near Almshouses | Only infill |
Not on Green Belt | Near to playing field/school |
Withymead E. P. H. facility appears to be underused, except for lunch club. If this were relocated to the community centre (small room) then the current building could be adapted for housing or demolished and low rise flats built on the site. (I’ve never seen anyone in this building!) Having lived here for 28 years | Land between the school and Garston Farm and identified by Marshfield CLT |
As close to the amenities as possible | Don’t know |
Adjoining the village in the Green Belt | Brownfield sites, within the permitted development limits and not on Green Belt |
Hayfield flats | On brownfield sites not Green Belt. They need to be truly affordable. Rental property or a care home for retired people may be better |
Don’t know | No more houses should be built. The character of the village has changed too much due to over development already |
No idea | E. end of village – beyond school |
Finding sites seems to be a problem in Marshfield as private developers are keen to exploit the villages popularity and make money for themselves in the process, not worried about the suitability of the sites or about affordable homes | CLT site off A420 |
Field near the school | No idea |
There are several sites clearly identifiable within the development boundary but we understand that all landowners are awaiting market rates! The one obvious green field sites is east of the village, south of the school | Affordable housing should be built on affordable land in large developments. It is not suitable to a conservation/historical village such as Marshfield |
Any Green Belt area to bring forward exception sites and allow local people to live there | Do not know of any sites but am very against planning permission being granted on Green Belt, conservation areas or AONB |
The field next to the school (under discussion now) seems to me to be the perfect site | Off George Lane, back of Almshouses |
By the school | Sites within village footprint only – there are several small plots e.g. Andrews coach yard |
Land near the school | Preferably not Green Belt/field sites |
There are several empty fields along the bypass (A420) which could be developed | Between school and quarry/airfield |
1. Opposite Alms Houses. 2. Green Belt | Only within the parish defined development boundary. The sites being developed at present are all for expensive housing. This can be opposed |
Opposite Alms Houses | Land by primary school |
Field behind Alms Houses | Do not know of any suitable sites, any new sites should be within walking distance of the central shops |
Within the existing footprint of the village | Where ever there is available land for a possible site |
I don’t know | No |
The land between back of High Street houses and service lane off A420 – near lorry park to George Lane | No |
By Almshouses | Yes |
Field behind the school | I’m afraid I don’t know but with careful design i.e. authentic Cotswold look, they could fit in many places. Road from Market Place to Doncombe Brook? |
I do not know | On opposite side of A420 in Tormarton Road |
Top of the High Street by water tower behind the Alms Houses | Agreeable if not on Green Belt/fields but infill or other suitable disused/brownfield site |
The other side of the school | We are happy with the proposed site |
Next to school (east of village) | If possible I think it should be developed on the A420 east of the school |
The Crown Pub – empty for several years. Along bypass – land not developed yet between housing estates | Don’t agree that Marshfield should have affordable housing. No jobs or transportation and facilities for this. Also, we need to preserve the countryside for future generations |
Don’t know to both | The east end of the village behind the school (not the Withy) |
School end of the village, across the A420, opposite the village | Next to school |
Opposite Alms Houses | Site identified by MCLT |
Don’t know | Don’t know |
Unknown | Next to the school |
Not on any green field sites | Only through the CLT which is the only way to guarantee the homes remain affordable in the future |
To east of local school | Develop existing properties that have been left undeveloped/renovated. Any new development should be for existing local people to get onto the housing market |
To the east of the school | On brownfield site if possible, not on any greenfield site |
No | Anywhere apart from greenfield and recreational ground |
1. Original site proposed by Parish Council by water tower. 2. Land between High St. and A420. 3. Land surrounding new school | Unsure |
Next to the A420 | No |
The Crown Inn. North of A420. Land between A420 and Alms Houses | Not sure |
Not sure | My Marshfield primary school, with direct road access to the A420, safe walk to school, playing fields and shops |
Anywhere other than the land by the church!! | Infill or brown sites |
Too near to village | Next to Marshfield primary school |
No | On a site that does not threaten our green areas |
Behind Alms Houses | Alongside the A420 beyond the school or at the west end |
St. Martin’s Lane | Garston Farm, Marshfield |
As part of ‘infill’ within the village development boundary – if a need for AH is identified, then the threshold for requiring an affordable housing element as part of new residential development, should be lowered – AH should form an element of any new resi proposals if exceptional circumstances are so great – should not be building on GB until all infill sites have been exhausted | In the unused garden which extends west from the Almshouses at the west end of the village – excluding the allotments. An agreement could be reached with the owners |
We support the MCLT current proposal of 18 houses on their suggested site | Brown field locations only, no to using Green Belt Land! |
Within the present village boundary, near the school | Depends on number of houses and style |
Near the A420 and the Almshouses | Garston Farm |
Don’t know. Why is there no development north of the A420 bypass? | Alongside A420 |
Try to keep village as one entity i.e. not building in areas some way away from existing properties. Use Green Belt if necessary, do not destroy the existing green areas within the village though | By Marshfield primary school |
None | Marshfield primary school |
Fields by school | Not on Green Belt |
Possibly extending the village settlement at either end of the village. Land accessed via Tanners Lane to rear of High Street | Site identified by Community Land Trust (by A420) |
The 17,000 homes that are planned for Colerne airfield! | None known |
Not sure, in one of the empty fields around the surrounding areas | Site identified by CLT (by A420) |
The field off St. Martin’s Lane | Already due to develop between community centre and flats |
Always talking about younger person living/moving to village if there were more affordable bungalows for older persons other houses could be freed up for younger people | Q12 – Depends on how many ‘a small number’ |
Q14: Has anyone from your family moved away in the last five years due to difficulty finding suitable housing in the parish | ||
Base | 248 | 100% |
Has anyone from your family moved away in the last five y… | No | 213 |
86% | ||
Yes | 32 | |
13% | ||
Don’t know | 3 | |
1% |
Q15: Does anyone living in your current home need to move to alternative housing within the parish in the next five years? | ||
Base | 230 | 100% |
Does anyone living in your current home need to move to a… | No | 195 |
85% | ||
Yes | 35 | |
15% |
Q16: Does anyone living in your current home need to move to alternative housing within the parish in the next five years? | ||
Base | 41 | 100% |
Please tell us who needs to move (Please tick one box) | Whole household needs to move together | 20 |
49% | ||
Only additional household(s) need to move | 18 | |
44% | ||
Both main household and additional household(s) need to move into separate homes | 3 | |
7% |
Q17: Please use this space to make any comments regarding this survey or on the issue of affordable rural housing |
Too many people in Marshfield hold up their hands in horror at the prospect of new houses being built on green field sites. They should be reminded that their own house was built on what was once a green field site |
Q15 – one hopes this be the correct answer but 5 years is a long time at a certain age |
When children turn 18 |
There is one house in village been up for sale more than 8 years! Buy it and convert or demolish and build 2 smaller homes or a low rise block of flats on the site. The GPO bungalow in Back Lane occupies a large site. Do they really need this or could they relocate somewhere else and the site used for housing |
We retired here in 2004 and while we are fine at the moment who knows what the future holds. We hope to remain where we are and adapt ourselves and house to suit |
Any scheme should be only available to residents or families of Marshfield resident and should not be able to sub-let or sell at market value |
1. Any house built in Marshfield will be too expensive for people on very low incomes. 2. As there is little or no employment opportunities in the village they would needs transport. Q16 – not applicable see Q15 |
There is a need for a whole range of housing including affordable housing, a survey is required to quantify the need for all age groups |
Time to build on Green Belt surrounding the village |
Think it is a good idea to get an overall public opinion |
As a young family we are desperate for affordable housing in Marshfield as we can’t afford the prices in Marshfield and we would be forced to leave the village if we ever wanted to buy |
I could never have afforded private sector property. I moved here from an Orbit shared ownership scheme. I earn 20k a year and would never got a mortgage or have savings for deposit. Affordable housing should have far higher priority, it causes misery for many especially public sector, nursing, teaching |
Affordable housing should be mixed with new development in the village. This will make the village more prosperous and good for business |
Is affordable rural housing really affordable if based on current prices in Marshfield especially difficult for single people with only one income |
The housing should not be on prime land in the village, i.e. on southern side of village. The housing should be rentable only and there should be some local representation in decisions made by the housing association |
Where was Q1? Did I guess correctly that it was our address needed? |
Q12 – I want to say no |
We think it is questionable that this survey is being actively sent to those not living within Marshfield as this is skewing results by it being sent to those outside the village – reality is that if you are on a lower income you will not be able to afford to live here, there is no public transport network that will enable access to employment opportunities – it would make much more sense to focus AH in areas that have good pub transport networks for employment and social reasons. Will AH in Marshfield be actually ‘affordable’? Q12 – If it is on the right site, ideally not on Green Belt land and all infill options have been considered first |
This survey seems biased towards finding people who want to live in Marshfield. Can they afford the transport and living cost of a rural life? Many have tried and cannot. This village needs a care home for the elderly or at least downsize properties suitable for the elderly of the village. We do not want building on the Green Belt while space is available within the village. This village does not need any more affordable housing. We have Withymead and 4 specifically built for this purpose in ‘Custard Close’ |
Need to find my own place as can’t stay here anymore, but my family and childcare are in the village |
Don’t see why children who have leave home should expect to be able to have ‘affordable’ housing in the same village they were brought up. We had to move away from London area because we could not afford to buy first home there, that was 30 years ago |
More affordable bungalows for older persons |
Affordable housing may attract and very often attract troublesome people unsuitable for rural living. Although I totally appreciate the housing would benefit local people wanting to move back to the village but how would/could this be monitored? How many houses? |
Too complicated for many elderly people and young people so they won’t bother, far too long |
It is clearly needed to meet the demand and Marshfield Community Land Trust is working hard to address this need |
Not enough infrastructure to cope with more cars, schools or shops. No space for a convenient car park |
Affordable housing YES but not 10 expensive houses to 3 affordable houses! |
The village should not grow anymore, it has changed too much already due to high income commuters moving in |
I believe the CLT site off A420 will, if this survey proves there to be a need for affordable housing in Marshfield (subject to the applicants being qualified) be suitable |
Stop wasting time talking about something that clearly doesn’t work in this village. The debate has been had and lost – note the housing development proposed at the water tower |
I am very concerned that any increase in the population of this village will have a negative impact on local services such as the doctor’s surgery and the primary school. I do not agree with the notion that you have a right to live somewhere because you are a ‘local’. We all live where we can afford to live and therefore many of us make sacrifices, be it location or size of property |
The means testing of ‘local connection’ seems very lax i.e. someone only needs to live in the parish for 6 months to qualify as having a ‘local connection’. This seems unfair on those who have lived here for years |
I would not support any development on Green Belt land/conservation land, only on small sites within village |
There are many fields within Marshfield’s development area that could have houses. We need to insist any new development is affordable – not just more expensive places. However, there are many nearby (Chippenham/Yate) areas with affordable houses – let us not over-develop here just because people want to move here as it is nice. There isn’t really any box to clearly state or explain why someone wants and needs a house here. Q37 – How are any of these specific to Marshfield? These are requirements not needs |
Disabled home required with car space/garage |
Nursing home, retirement complex so older people need not leave the village |
Green spaces need to be protected. There are numerous new houses being built within South Glos already and the infrastructure is struggling |
To maintain the ‘affordability’ of a house, strict rules/covenants need to be enforced in perpetuity, re: Q38 may I suggest that the definition of ‘affordability’ should have a ceiling of £200 – 250k – above that figure is hardly affordable for most first time buyers |
It is all about sympathetic designs! |
We as a household have a need for affordable housing and support the need for sustainable affordable rental housing within the parish for those living and connected to the parish |
A village cannot stagnate – new housing is essential to allow people with a connection to that village to return to their roots |
See above Q13 box |
I work in Marshfield and live in the family home – I would like to have my own house |
I would only support this if the site was appropriate and the LA provided enough amenities to support the increase (school place, funding to the school, refuse collection etc) |
Am in favour of mixed housing – affordable and private together to create a community. This would be very good for Marshfield |
We need to scrap the Green Belt and reduce planning restrictions on rural development e.g. building granny annexe if plot is big enough |
The survey is well designed. I hope the decision to build affordable rural housing that meets significant demand is made quickly |
Affordable rural housing must be kept under control of CLT to ensure future generations (such as our children) will have an opportunity to live in one. All previous so-called affordable housing has slipped into open market ownership/price |
We are currently unable to get a mortgage in the area, so are private renting, which is costing us three times the amount of a mortgage! |
Marshfield Community Land Trust are currently trying to identify areas suitable for affordable housing. This household are members |
The village is surrounded by Green Belt/agricultural land, more housing would not be appropriate |
There are lots of houses being built in South Glos but not many are affordable to ordinary people. Developers are only interested in making huge profits. It is scandalous and needs to be addressed by the Government |
Affordable housing in Marshfield still seems to equate to properties of £300k upwards. This doesn’t seem like a crisis situation to get people homes if they are able to afford £300k. Green Belt areas should not be built on to enable a very small amount of ‘affordable housing’ whilst developers make a fortune out of the remaining builds |
Our children are in their early twenties and would like the opportunity to continue living near parents/grandparents |
No more houses in Marshfield, keep it as a lovely village, keep it that way please. I have been here 80 or so years. There is twenty houses for sale so no more as they are not selling the one next door to me has been for sale since last Christmas. We have a bridle way across the farm at Garston Farm and is used for people walking their dogs and not on leads so no more wild hares and wildlife now, not very good at all |
I would like to live in a house!! |
Public transport to Bristol or Bath are both inadequate to allow people living in the village to hold down a 9-5.30 position without own car. This means people have to move out of the village in order to work which has happened in my household |
Q18: Please tell us your postcode | 229 postcodes were left |
Q19: Gender | ||
Base | 232 | 100% |
Your gender: | Female | 136 |
59% | ||
Male | 90 | |
39% | ||
Prefer not to say | 6 | |
3% |
Q20: Age | ||
Base | 236 | 100% |
Your age: | 65 and over | 100 |
42% | ||
45-64 | 81 | |
34% | ||
19-44 | 49 | |
21% | ||
Prefer not to say | 6 | |
3% |
Q21: Disablity | ||
Base | 238 | 100% |
Do you consider yourself to be disabled? | No | 218 |
92% | ||
Yes | 15 | |
6% | ||
Prefer not to say | 5 | |
2% |
Q22: Ethnicity | ||
Base | 236 | 100% |
Your ethnicity: | White – English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British | 212 |
90% | ||
Prefer not to say | 14 | |
6% | ||
White – Other (please state) | 6 | |
3% | ||
White – Irish | 3 | |
1% | ||
Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Groups – Other (please state) | 1 | |
0% |
Q23: Do you need to complete ‘part two’? | ||
Base | 258 | 100% |
If you have answered ‘Yes’ to Q14 (at the top of this pag… | No – skip to the end | 212 |
82% | ||
Yes – take me to ‘part two’ | 46 | |
18% |
Q24: Where does the household needing to move currently live? | ||
Base | 40 | 100% |
Where does the household needing to move currently live? … | Together as one household in this parish | 29 |
73% | ||
Outside this parish | 8 | |
20% | ||
With another household in this parish | 3 | |
8% |
Q25: If you / they currently live in Marshfield Parish, how long have you / they lived there? | ||
Base | 41 | 100% |
If you / they currently live in Marshfield Parish, how lo… | 5 years plus | 30 |
73% | ||
Does not apply | 6 | |
15% | ||
1 – 3 years | 3 | |
7% | ||
3 – 5 years | 2 | |
5% |
Q26: If you plan to return to Marshfield Parish, how long ago did you / they move away? | ||
Base | 34 | 100% |
If you plan to return to Marshfield Parish, how long ago … | Does not apply | 26 |
76% | ||
1 – 3 years | 4 | |
12% | ||
0 – 6 months | 2 | |
6% | ||
5 years plus | 2 | |
6% |
Q27: If you plan to return to Marshfield Parish, how long did you / they previously live there? | ||
Base | 34 | 100% |
If you plan to return to Marshfield Parish, how long did … | Does not apply | 24 |
71% | ||
5 years plus | 8 | |
24% | ||
0 – 6 months | 1 | |
3% | ||
1 – 3 years | 1 | |
3% |
Q28: Do you or any member of your household work in Marshfield Parish | ||
Base | 40 | 100% |
Do you or any member of your household work in Marshfield… | Yes | 21 |
53% | ||
No | 19 | |
48% |
Q29: How long have you / they worked in the parish? | ||
Base | 22 | 100% |
How long have you / they worked in the parish? | 5 years + | 16 |
73% | ||
3 – 5 years | 3 | |
14% | ||
6 – 12 months | 2 | |
9% | ||
1 – 3 years | 1 | |
5% |
Q30: When does the household need to move? | |||||
Base | 42 | 100% | |||
When does the household need to move? (Please tick one box) | Within 2 years | 20 | |||
48% | |||||
2 – 5 years from now | 17 | ||||
40% | |||||
In 5 years or more | 5 | ||||
12% | |||||
Q31: What is the minimum number of bedrooms you require? | |||||
Base | 42 | 100% | |||
What is the minimum number of bedrooms you require? (Plea… | 2 bedrooms | 23 | |||
55% | |||||
3 bedrooms | 15 | ||||
36% | |||||
1 bedroom/ bed-sit | 3 | ||||
7% | |||||
4 or more bedrooms | 1 | ||||
2% | |||||
Q32: What type of household are you? | ||
Base | 43 | 100% |
What type of household are you? (Please tick one box) | Two parent family | 20 |
47% | ||
Couple | 7 | |
16% | ||
One person household | 6 | |
14% | ||
Lone parent family | 4 | |
9% | ||
Retired couple | 3 | |
7% | ||
Other | 2 | |
5% | ||
Shared house | 1 | |
2% |
Q32a: Other , please specify |
2 parent household with 2 x 18+ children |
One person household – retired single |
I am now widowed, hence my move to Marshfield as I was unable to afford previous accommodation after partners death |
Engaged and planning to marry soon |
Have 12 year old son and would like a home to spend time together when son comes to visit |
Live with parents |
Q33: Are you on the South Gloucestershire housing register? | ||
Base | 43 | 100% |
Are you on the South Gloucestershire housing register or … | No | 43 |
100% | ||
Yes | – | |
– |
Q34: Which of the following would you prefer? | ||
Base | 35 | 100% |
Which of the following would you prefer? (Please tick one… | Buy on the private housing market | 23 |
66% | ||
Rent from a Housing Association | 5 | |
14% | ||
Shared Ownership* | 4 | |
11% | ||
Self-Build Project* | 2 | |
6% | ||
Rent from a private landlord | 1 | |
3% |
Q35: Please indicate the age and gender of each person who needs to move to or within the Parish | |||||||||||
Total | 0-10 | Nov-18 | 19-25 | 26-55 | 55+ | Female | Male | ||||
Base | 104 | 14 | 11 | 20 | 45 | 14 | 21 | 27 | |||
13% | 11% | 19% | 43% | 13% | 20% | 26% | |||||
You | 33 | – | – | 4 | 21 | 8 | 11 | 5 | |||
– | – | 12% | 64% | 24% | 33% | 15% | |||||
Other person 1 | 38 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 14 | |||
3% | 11% | 18% | 53% | 16% | 11% | 37% | |||||
Other person 2 | 19 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 3 | – | 3 | 5 | |||
26% | 16% | 42% | 16% | – | 16% | 26% | |||||
Other person 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | – | 3 | 1 | |||
44% | 33% | 11% | 11% | – | 33% | 11% | |||||
Other person 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 | |||
80% | 20% | – | – | – | – | 40% | |||||
Q36: What type of accommodation do you require? | |||||||||||
Base | 41 | 100% | |||||||||
What type of accommodation do you require? (Please tick… | House | 27 | |||||||||
66% | |||||||||||
Other | 6 | ||||||||||
15% | |||||||||||
Flat/ maisonette | 4 | ||||||||||
10% | |||||||||||
Bungalow | 2 | ||||||||||
5% | |||||||||||
Retirement housing | 2 | ||||||||||
5% | |||||||||||
Q37: What is your main reason for needing housing within Marshfield? | ||
Base | 42 | 100% |
What is your main reason for needing housing within Marsh… | Other | 16 |
38% | ||
Need to set up independent accommodation | 10 | |
24% | ||
Need secure accommodation | 5 | |
12% | ||
Need larger accommodation | 3 | |
7% | ||
Need smaller accommodation | 3 | |
7% | ||
Need to be closer to employment | 3 | |
7% | ||
Need a physically adapted home | 2 | |
5% |
Q38: If you wish to buy a home, what is the maximum price you could afford? | |||
Base | 38 | 100% | |
If you wish to buy a home, what is the maximum price you … | £74,999 or less | 3 | |
8% | |||
£100,000 – £124,999 | 1 | ||
3% | |||
£125,000 – £149.999 | 4 | ||
11% | |||
£150,000 – £174,999 | 3 | ||
8% | |||
£175,000 – £199,999 | 3 | ||
8% | |||
£200,000 – £224,999 | 1 | ||
3% | |||
£225,000 – £249,999 | 2 | ||
5% | |||
£250,000 – £274,999 | 4 | ||
11% | |||
£275,000 – 299,999 | 1 | ||
3% | |||
300,000 – £324,999 | 6 | ||
16% | |||
£325,000 – £349,999 | 1 | ||
3% | |||
£350,000 – £374,999 | 1 | ||
3% | |||
£375,000- £399,999 | 1 | ||
3% | |||
£400,000 – £424,999 | 1 | ||
3% | |||
£425,000 – £449,999 | 1 | ||
3% | |||
£500,000 – £524,999 | 1 | ||
3% | |||
Over £600,000 | 4 | ||
11% | |||
Q39: If you wish to buy a home, please state what savings or financial support you have to use as a deposit? | ||
Base | 36 | 100% |
If you wish to buy a home, please state what savings .. | Less than £9,999 | 10 |
28% | ||
Over £30,000 | 10 | |
28% | ||
£10,000 – £14,999 | 7 | |
19% | ||
£25,000 – £29,999 | 5 | |
14% | ||
£20,000 – £24,999 | 3 | |
8% | ||
£15,000 – £19,999 | 1 | |
3% |
Q40: If you wish to rent a home, what is the maximum monthly rent you could afford? | ||
Base | 24 | 100% |
If you wish to rent a home, what is the maximum monthly | £501 – £600 | 6 |
25% | ||
£401 – £500 | 4 | |
17% | ||
£801 – £900 | 4 | |
17% | ||
£400 or less | 3 | |
13% | ||
£601 – £700 | 3 | |
13% | ||
£701 – £800 | 1 | |
4% | ||
£1,001 – £1,100 | 1 | |
4% | ||
£1,201 – £1,300 | 1 | |
4% | ||
Over £1,400 | 1 | |
4% |
Q41: What is the total monthly take home income (after deductions such as national insurance and tax) of everybody who is responsible for the cost of housing (rent or mortgage)? | ||
Base | 35 | 100% |
What is the total monthly take home income (after deducti… | £1,000 – £1,249 | 6 |
17% | ||
£1,250 – £1,499 | 4 | |
11% | ||
£1,500 – £1,749 | 4 | |
11% | ||
Over £4,000 | 4 | |
11% | ||
£2,500 – £2,749 | 3 | |
9% | ||
£3,000 – £3,249 | 3 | |
9% | ||
£1,750 – £1,999 | 2 | |
6% | ||
£2,250 – £2,499 | 2 | |
6% | ||
£499 or less | 1 | |
3% | ||
£500 – £749 | 1 | |
3% | ||
£2,000 – £2,249 | 1 | |
3% | ||
£2,750 – £2,999 | 1 | |
3% | ||
£3,250 – £3,499 | 1 | |
3% | ||
£3,500 – £3,749 | 1 | |
3% | ||
£3,750 – £3,999 | 1 | |
3% |
Q42: Please use this box to provide any other comments |
Twenty comments were left, many of which had personal details in and so are not reproduced here in order to maintain anonymity. |
This report was produced by South Gloucestershire Council’s Strategic Housing & Enabling Team in conjunction with the Corporate Research & Consultation Team.
Further information about this report is available from the Enabling Projects Officer:
) 01454 865354
8 enabling@southglos.gov.uk or consultation@southglos.gov.uk
* South Gloucestershire Council, Strategic Housing & Enabling Team or the
Corporate Research and Consultation Team
Good news about the Energy Group project
In May we wrote that the affordable housing scheme had received full planning approval. We now have some more good news- the MCLT Energy Group has received a grant from the Rural Community Energy Fund to commission a Feasibility Study.
The first meeting between the Energy Group and the consultants who will carry out the feasibility study took place in the first week of June.
What will the grant cover?
The grant will explore whether a community owned, renewable electricity generating installation, can be made to work in Marshfield. This is an important first step to assess what sort of project could be viable and deliver community benefits.
The study will explore issues such as:
Connection to the Grid
The likelihood of securing planning on the right piece of land
Is it possible to earn enough from the sale of electricity to cover costs and possibly have a surplus for the community.
What happens after the feasibility study has reported in September 2021?
If the study suggests a community owned electricity generating project is possible, further work will be needed in areas such as: Planning, developing a full Business Case, securing the Land, selecting Operators and Managers, attracting Investors, appointing Contractors, negotiating the Sale of Electricity, and confirming a viable financial model.
But the point of the feasibility study is to see if such a project is feasible so we must await its findings before assuming anything.
We are very pleased to get the feasibility study underway and it feels like a positive step that we hope will contribute to Marshfield moving towards net Zero Carbon, and becoming a Sustainable Village!
Join the MCLT Energy Group
We are keen for others to join the Energy Group and help take this project into the future so please get in touch with Jim Brookes if you are interested: jim.brookes@marshfieldclt.org
Christine Eden (chair: christine.eden@marhsfieldclt.org); Oliver Shirley; Simon Turner; Vicky Williams; Ian Jones; Ian Dawes; Jim Brookes; Ros Snow
Great Planning News
Great news
Full planning approval received
We’re on our way towards building affordable homes for Marshfield
At the end of April 2021, South Gloucestershire Council signed a Section 106 which was required for full planning approval. And on May 5th a decision notice was on the SGC planning portal confirming full planning approval. This is a very significant development and unlocks the next stage of the affordable housing which will now go forward as quickly as possible.
Watch out for news of how to apply to SGC HomeChoice
Notes from Sustainable Marshfield Zoom on 18/02/21: A Community solar farm
What’s it like to set up and run a community-owned solar farm?
Green Drinks Zoom held at 7.30pm on Thursday 18th February 2021
Notes from the session
Marshfield Community Land Trust (MCLT) is exploring the feasibility of setting up a community-owned solar array north of the A420, to generate renewable energy for the village.
Sustainable Marshfield devoted its February one-hour Green Drinks online session to hear from Wedmore village, similar to Marshfield, who installed such a system 7 years ago.
Steve Mewes, Chair of Wedmore Community Power Co-operative, shared experiences and answered questions from 50 local residents at the online session, moderated by Peter Woodward.
The following notes have been taken from the live Zoom and re-ordered for clarity:
About Green Wedmore
The scheme
• Started in 2012 and built in 2013
• The site over 2 paddocks of 2-3 acres is located a quarter mile north of the village
• The 1MW system generates 1.1 million KWH per annum which powers about 250 houses on a good day
• Finding suitable land near the grid connection with positive landowners is crucial
• Important to get good help/advice from an early stage. These schemes are complex!
Community engagement
• Early and ongoing engagement with the local community is vital
• Every house in the village was leafleted to explain the plan
• 4 public events held on consecutive nights in local school. 50-60 people at each event
• Then applied for planning permission. Permission for solar does not change the land use to brownfield
• There was not 100% support. The Parish Council were not unanimous in support
• Objectors were a small minority and made a classic error of not putting their names on flyers
• Key was to be completely open and to keep talking and talking
• All opposition has now entirely evaporated. Newcomers often don’t know the solar farm is there!
• Volunteers invited to be actively involved in aspects of the construction: ‘how often do you get the chance to help build your own power station!’
Structure/management
• CPC set up as a not for profit co-operative
• 125 members invested as Bond and Share holders
• Shares deliver a 5.5% return to investors. It’s worth investing in a good prospectus
• Minimum investment was £100 to encourage community involvement
• Finding the money quickly was not a problem at all – plenty out there.
• Members elect a Management Board who are all volunteers
• The technical operation is managed by British Solar Renewables (BSR) who do all site maintenance and take the hassle away from volunteers
• Share Energy are paid an annual flat-rate fee (£700?) to do administration – communication with members, payments etc
• Getting money back out of the Grid is a challenge. Good Energy is the purchaser.
• Each year we have negotiated a new Purchase Power agreement with them
• Have now switched to an Export Rate which gives a better return
• Electricity prices haven’t increased as predicted in business plan
• No security issue encountered on this site. Weather is the biggest damage risk
• Insurance companies now requiring high tech surveillance. Deciding not to spend £30,000 on kit
• The panels are expected to last for full 25 years
• The inverters are most likely to fail as they have a 10 year lifespan. Replacement twice has been factored into business plan
• The Business Plan is structured to pay for removal of everything if we want to after 25 years Community benefit
• A core mission for whole project was that all the financial surplus goes back to the community
• In addition to returns to investors, estimate of £600,000 payments to the community over the 25-year life time. £45,000 paid out in grants so far
• Sub cttee of the board meets 3 times a year to assess grant applications
• Simple 2-page form to apply for max £5,000 grant. Examples for grant awards:
o Wedmore village hall panels
o Shower block for girl guides
o LED lights in community buildings
o Warmer Wedmore to help retrofit social housing with insulation
Site retained as farmland
• A founding principle was to enhance the site for biodiversity as pasture
• Panels are slightly raised to allow sheep grazing – they love it and have caused no damage
• There was a marginal increase in cost, but prepared to pay as it’s the right thing to do
• Biodiversity very important. Botanical survey done before and during works
• 400m of new screen native hedgerow around sites planted
• Decision to use no concrete. Supports piled into the ground will help easy removal But that was then!
The future
• Not replacing panels with more efficient ones. Minimising the carbon lifecycle of the project important
• At the end of life the panels will probably be sold into the second hand market – or recycled as there will be a fully-fledged reprocessing industry in 20 years’ time
• Next scheme being developed is a wind turbine with battery storage
More information
Green Wedmore: http://www.greenwedmore.co.uk
Wedmore Community Power Co- operative: https://wedmorecpc.co.uk
Marshfield Community Land Trust: https://marshfieldclt.org
Sustainable Marshfield: Free to join membership@sustainablemarshfield.org
Steve believes projects are still financially very doable even without the Feed in Tariff
• Solar panels are half the price and more efficient
• Battery storage offers more options to earn money. BSR can help with this
Wider community impact
• Hope that the project encourages people to think about their own carbon footprint
• Never been worried about having an active core group with a small turnout to meetings etc
• Keep plugging away and focus on actions
2019-20 Directors’ Annual Report
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020
Saturday October 31 2020, 12.00 noon: Zoom meeting
Annual Report from MCLT Board of Directors 2019-20
1. The MCLT has now been in existence for 4 years and remains committed to promoting a confident and forward looking local community in Marshfield by developing new initiatives for community benefit. From its inception the Board identified three key areas of activity: providing affordable housing; developing other social and environmental initiatives, and encouraging community participation. Over the last year it has focussed on those activities relevant to delivering its affordable housing project and has also been exploring issues of energy use and efficiency that could benefit Marshfield.
2. At last year’s AGM we reported that we were working with architects and a range of consultants to develop a draft design for 12 affordable houses, of which 10 are for rent and 2 for shared ownership, on a site next to Garston Farm. This draft design was shown to the village at a consultation event in the Community Centre in November 2019. We received very strong support from people who attended the consultation and we submitted a planning application just before Christmas.
3 .The application was unusual in that it requested permission to build on a rural exception site which can only be considered for planning approval because it meets certain planning policy criteria. These include a requirement that the development be small scale and that homes will be for people in housing need with a local connection.
4. There followed a period of considerable activity as various questions were raised by the planners around issues that we had always known would need to be discussed in detail. In particular there were major concerns about the access from the A420, the relationship to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the sewage water treatment system and the design of the houses. There was also considerable discussion about the energy efficiency of the housing design with South Gloucestershire Council strongly supporting the CLT’s desire to move to the internationally recognised low energy pasivhaus standards.
5. The application received a powerful endorsement from Marshfield community with 79 letters of support and just 2 letters of objection from local residents.
6. In May 2020 we were delighted to receive planning permission, in principle. As expected, approval is conditional on MCLT agreeing a Section 106 with South Gloucestershire Council. This will address issues such as the various requirements associated with access to the site, the affordable housing and the local connection criteria. We hope to complete these various legal processes by early November, 2020.
7. The process of securing contractors to build the site has already begun and detailed informationhas been sent out to a shortlist of 5 contractors. If all goes well we would hope that contractors could be on site within the next 3 to 4 months.
8. The building process is managed, both in terms of the construction and financing, by our partner housing association, United Communities. MCLT has worked very closely with Caroline Massey from United Communities who is very committed to our project. She is the main contact with our financial partners, South Gloucestershire Council and Homes England, who are providing grant support for the project. South Gloucestershire Council have also supported us in our desire to build to pasivhaus standards for which MCLT have been very grateful. We have also been grateful for the continued high level of technical support we have received from Steve Watson and the Wessex CLT project.
9. The allocation of these houses will be in accordance with ‘local connection’ criteria agreed by MCLT. Applicants will need to register with South Gloucestershire Council’s HomeChoice to verify their need for affordable housing. The scheme is on target to achieve its aims of charging social rents.
10. The CLT energy working group has continued to explore energy use and the possibility of having greater community control through emerging technologies. Such debates involve complex issues such as exploring possibilities for generating local green energy on a sufficiently large scale to provide a large proportion of the village’s needs. The group has contributed to discussions about energy sustainability in relation to the Community Centre and the affordable housing project and has been exploring issues associated with fast charging provision for electric cars. The EWG have made links with the new climate emergency team in South Gloucestershire and other groups across the country with similar objectives. The group are very keen to hear from anyone interested in joining them to help take issues around sustainable energy forward.
11. The Board wishes to thank all who have supported the Trust over the years it has taken to acquire a site and get planning permission. This could not have been achieved without support from the Parish Council, our District Councillors Steve Reed and Ben Stokes, our members and Marshfield community. Thank you all.
12. The MCLT Board is very keen to hear from anyone with ideas about potential future developments that would benefit Marshfield. This can cover a wide range of possibilities, not just housing projects .Please get in touch if you have any –however vague- ideas to chat about.
The MCLT Board: Christine Eden, Chair; Oliver Shirley, Vice-chair; Simon Turner, Treasurer; Vicky Williams, Secretary; Jim Brookes, Ian Dawes, Ian Jones, Ros Snow .
October 2020