County's biggest housing survey gets under way
Tuesday, 25th March 2014.
This week, over 80,000 households will receive questionnaires inviting residents to have their say on what they value most about living in Suffolk and their aspirations for the future.
In what will be Suffolk's biggest housing survey, all seven district and borough councils are calling on people to tell them about where they live, and what housing choices they are likely to face.
Everyone can get involved - from young people moving away from the family home to older people planning for the future. All participants can opt to enter a free prize draw, with £100 in retail vouchers available for one winner per local council area.
The results will help local councils influence the way housing is provided in future to meet the needs of a changing population.
When combined with census results and housing market information, the countywide survey will paint a compelling picture for planners and housing developers alike.
Speaking on behalf of all partners, Ian Blofield, chairman of the Suffolk Strategic Housing Partnership said: "This major survey will determine the way we meet the county's housing needs for years to come.
"The fact that the whole county is involved is important as it will give us a clear picture about what matters to people about where they live, what could be improved and what people will need as they grow older.
"With the wider economic pressures that we face, and an ageing population, we must be in a position to use evidence to back up our decisions about the county's housing needs as we plan ahead."
Using the electoral roll, printed surveys will be issued to a random sample of 25 per cent of the county's population. Anyone can complete the survey online by visiting www.babergh.gov.uk/2014SHS
With well-documented links between the quality of housing and people's health, and an emphasis on developers to build houses that meet demand, and in which people want to live, councils expect to be able to use the information provided by the survey to plan for the next decade.
Haverhill's Cllr Anne Gower, St Edmundsbury Borough Council cabinet member for housing, said: "It is obvious there is a clear link between good housing, health and wellbeing, economic growth and educational attainment.
"Current traditional methods of providing housing are not always meeting present and future needs.
"We must plan for the future, and this survey is a chance for people to tell us about their housing needs and aspirations so we can understand how to provide them with appropriate choices.
The deadline for completion is April 23. The results will be published later in the summer.
In what will be Suffolk's biggest housing survey, all seven district and borough councils are calling on people to tell them about where they live, and what housing choices they are likely to face.
Everyone can get involved - from young people moving away from the family home to older people planning for the future. All participants can opt to enter a free prize draw, with £100 in retail vouchers available for one winner per local council area.
The results will help local councils influence the way housing is provided in future to meet the needs of a changing population.
When combined with census results and housing market information, the countywide survey will paint a compelling picture for planners and housing developers alike.
Speaking on behalf of all partners, Ian Blofield, chairman of the Suffolk Strategic Housing Partnership said: "This major survey will determine the way we meet the county's housing needs for years to come.
"The fact that the whole county is involved is important as it will give us a clear picture about what matters to people about where they live, what could be improved and what people will need as they grow older.
"With the wider economic pressures that we face, and an ageing population, we must be in a position to use evidence to back up our decisions about the county's housing needs as we plan ahead."
Using the electoral roll, printed surveys will be issued to a random sample of 25 per cent of the county's population. Anyone can complete the survey online by visiting www.babergh.gov.uk/2014SHS
With well-documented links between the quality of housing and people's health, and an emphasis on developers to build houses that meet demand, and in which people want to live, councils expect to be able to use the information provided by the survey to plan for the next decade.
Haverhill's Cllr Anne Gower, St Edmundsbury Borough Council cabinet member for housing, said: "It is obvious there is a clear link between good housing, health and wellbeing, economic growth and educational attainment.
"Current traditional methods of providing housing are not always meeting present and future needs.
"We must plan for the future, and this survey is a chance for people to tell us about their housing needs and aspirations so we can understand how to provide them with appropriate choices.
The deadline for completion is April 23. The results will be published later in the summer.
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