In 2019 Emsworth CLT organised a Housing Needs Survey, engaging the consultants arc4 to distribute a questionnaire to every household in Emsworth and then to analyse the responses. The findings and conclusions can be found as or . We have summarised some of the most important conclusions here:
Many of these will come as little surprise to residents but we now have an authoritative evidence-base to underpin our initiatives and advocacy with Havant Borough Council (HBC) and other bodies.
It has been noted before that the nature of the land economy in Emsworth (scarcity, high cost, lack of exception sites) makes it very difficult to get conventional community-led housing projects off the ground. Also, that while the pipeline of affordable housing from commercial schemes is significant, its mix, character, rental terms and allocation to tenants is not necessarily sensitive to the local needs of our community.
Against this backdrop the principal focuses of Emsworth CLT are two-fold:
Both of these require working in partnership with HBC who are very supportive but hard hit by the pandemic. Some normality is however returning and discussions have resumed recently.
On a final positive note ECLT have agreed model partnership arrangements which should enable the Trust to deliver housing efficiently and with an acceptable level of risk once a site is available. Any ideas for sites brought forward by members or others will be as enthusiastically received as ever!
