Decision Maker: Executive Board

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: November 12, 2024

Purpose: To provide members with an overview of Welsh Government’s LHMA process and to seek feedback on the draft LHMA report.

Content: RESOLVED –   (i)         That the adoption of the Local Housing Market Assessment be supported, in order to comply with the legal duty for local authorities to have an up to date Local Housing Market Assessment in place.   (ii)        That the draft Local Housing Market Assessment as detailed in Appendix 1 to report COH/42/24 be noted.   (iii)       That the use of the 10 year migration variant be approved as the most up to date data available for estimating future housing need.   (iv)      That the Local Housing Market Assessment be adopted by Wrexham County Borough Council as its revised Local Housing Assessment, and that it be subsequently submitted to Welsh Government and published on the Council’s website.   (v)       That a review of the document be carried out within 2 years and a revised version be presented to Executive Board.   Reasons for decisions   (i)        Agreeing to adopt the draft LHMA will ensure that the Council complies with the legal requirement under section 8 of the Housing Act 1985, to review the level of housing need in the County Borough on a periodic basis.   (ii)       An updated assessment of local housing need will provide the Council’s Planning Officers with the information needed to inform further revisions of the Council’s current Local Development Plan, in terms of the types of housing that are needed and the areas where need is most pressing.   (iii)      It will enable officers in the Housing Department, who are engaged in development work, to make best use of resources such as Social Housing Grant by providing a sound basis for the Council’s new build and buyback programmes.   (iv)      It will, furthermore, ensure that there is revised housing need data that can be used to inform discussions with Housing Associations when they are looking to carry out new build projects or purchase properties off current sites.   (v)       Executive Board’s agreement to using the 10 year migration variant as the basis for estimating future demand, will ensure that the LHMA aligns with the Council’s aspirations for economic growth as set out in strategic documents such as the Council Plan.   (vi)      By reviewing the document within 2 years and presenting a revised LHMA to Executive Board, members will have an overview of how the housing situation is changing in the County Borough, over time.