Spelthorne Strategic Housing Market Assessment

National planning policy as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires local authorities preparing a Local Plan to carry out a Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA).

Paragraph 159 of the NPFF states that a SHMA should assess the full housing needs of an area, identify the scale and mix of housing and range of tenures which meets household and population projections, taking account of migration and demographic change and address the needs of specific groups in the community.  The NPPF also sets out that where housing markets cross administrative boundaries authorities should work with one another.

Spelthorne and Runnymede Borough Councils have been working together with their consultants GL Hearn to prepare a SHMA.  The SHMA sets out the extent of the housing market area in Spelthorne and Runnymede and the number and type of homes needed to meet housing demand in that combined area over the period 2013 to 2033 based on population and economic projections.

In arriving at the housing demand numbers, a SHMA does not take into account any other factors such as Green Belt, flood risk or infrastructure capacity which may limit the ability of Spelthorne and Runnymede to meet the overall level of demand.  This is in line with government advice on how to carry out a SHMA study as set out in the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) note on Housing and Economic Needs Assessments.  As such, the SHMA is but one piece of evidence to inform the Local Plan and other studies will be required to understand how much housing demand could be accommodated across Spelthorne and Runnymede.  The final SHMA is available to view below:

- October 2019