2. local.gov.uk/pas
Welcome
• This event is showcase for a recent project.
• We are on Zoom. Have you got a name
• Turn your camera on, if you like, and we will
see you (which is nice!)
• We will have a Q and A bit but we might not be
able to cover all of them
5. local.gov.uk/pas
What were we trying to achieve?
• Relationship between LHN and para.61 groups
• Exploring data standardisation for HNAs
• Making a user friendly HNA (de-mystify pop data)
• How best to think about identifying student needs
– CCC – 16% students in population v’s national ave. of 6.4%
– Ability to identify and quantify student housing need
6. local.gov.uk/pas
What were we trying to achieve?
• Relationship between
LHN and NPPF para.62
– Affordable housing needs
– Community group needs
• LHN starting point
• How does the puzzle fit
together?
7. local.gov.uk/pas
How we went about it
• PAS and CCC – scope and brief
• CCC procured Edge Analytics
• Edge Analytics – built the model and produced
HNA
• IPE – external review & student research
9. Process
● Strategic Housing Market Area Assessment (2018) -
Updated HMA and OAN as required by Local Plan
Inspector
● New Local Housing Need methodology (2019)
● Local Plan update started (2019)
● Housing Need Assessment required - procured Edge
Analytics Ltd (2020)
● Housing Need Assessment published alongside Local Plan
Options Consultation (2021)
10. Brief
● Review the Standard Method to identify a Housing Need requirement
figure
● An assessment of housing need for different types of housing:
○ Affordable housing - affordable rent, social rent, affordable ownership
○ Housing mix - including broken down by market and affordable housing, and
by sub-geographies
○ Students
○ Older People
○ People with disabilities
○ People who rent
○ Families with children
○ Key Workers
○ Gypsy and Travellers
○ Self-build
○ Service Families
11. Benefits
● Simplified, less subjective process, starting with a clear need figure
● PPG sets out clear methodology for affordable housing
● Cost-effective way to produce robust evidence to inform new Local
Plan policies
● More objective - data-driven assessment of the needs of different
groups
● Individual assessments focused on different groups throws up
interesting challenges
● Presentation and language much better for residents and Councillors
12. Limitations
● Further work required on bespoke issues including “exceptional
circumstances”
● Challenging to identify “needs” for all identified groups - limitations
linked to lack of existing national and local data
● Any identified needs will not link neatly back to LHN
● Meeting identified needs likely to be challenging through planning
policies alone - supply is often market driven e.g. older persons
housing
● Variable detail and guidance within PPG on needs of different groups
e.g. student accommodation
14. We provide expert Data Science through a
combination of data, technology and
analytical models to generate insight
that better informs business
planning and decision-making.
We have a particular expertise
in demographic modelling,
forecasting and
optimisation.
www.nexusleeds.co.
uk
15. • Provide up-to-date intelligence on Canterbury’s housing needs
• Standard method Local Housing Need
• Affordable Needs (rent/buy)
• Housing Mix
• Needs of specific groups
• ‘SHMA-lite’
• Data graphics and visualisations
• ‘Standardisation’ of key calculations/outputs
15
Project Requirements
16. • Review of existing SHMA/HNA approaches
• Local, regional and national datasets on demographics, housing,
socio-economic and housing market indicators were combined
• Series of models and visualisations developed
• DOMUS Housing Needs Toolkit:
• Database and associated visualisations of key data inputs
• Power-BI reports (beta version)
16
Approach
18. • Standard method LHN & benchmarking
• Affordable housing need
• Housing Mix
• Needs of specific groups:
• Students
• Older people
• People with disabilities
• People who rent
• Families with children
• Key workers
• Gypsy and Traveller
• Self-build
• Service Families
• Power-BI Reports
18
Outputs
Power-BI Reports
Final Report
23. local.gov.uk/pas
IPE – External Review
• A glowing endorsement
• Understandable by layperson
• Affordable housing diagram
• Sub-geography approach to mix and size
• No ready made model for student needs
24. local.gov.uk/pas
What did we learn
Its complex -
LHN and needs
jigsaw
PPG and
processes –
guide towards
old style
This might not
work for
everyone
Data
standardisation -
we can only go
so far
Simpler and
more useable
HNA
Step towards
digital local plan
25. local.gov.uk/pas
Question time
• How did we do? Any advice for us?
• Can you see an approach like this working for
you?
• Can you benefits in a data driven approach?
• What would your Cllrs think about this?
Edge Analytics has worked extensively with local planning authorities across the UK, supporting the development of Local Plans:
SHMA/Housing Needs Assessments
Demographic analysis, forecasting and expertise
Examination support.
Manage POPGROUP products and services on behalf of the LGA
Local Plan housing data expertise
The HNA approach began with an extensive review of existing SHMA/HNA approaches, including the existing Lichfields reports for Canterbury, and a wide range of other consultancies/companies SHMAs
We then developed a range of models and data visualisations for each of the key inputs to the housing needs assessment.
These utilise data from a range of sources.
Collation of large volumes of data from published sources, brought together in the DOMUS toolkit.
Generic and client datasets feed into the Housing Needs Model, generating housing need estimates in line with NPPF requirements.
If client data is available, this can be included.
A number of different models make up the DOMUS toolkit, with visualisation and clear succinct reporting being the key. The models are flexible, in that they can utilise data from publicly-available datasets, incorporating client data where available/required.
The DOMUS database is connected to Microsoft Power-BI, for the visualisation of key datasets that inform housing needs assessments. We are also investigating alternative systems for the visualization of datasets, to support clients who don’t have access to Power-BI.
