WINDERMERE needs to build an extra 30 affordable houses every year for the next five years to meet the current demand for local people needing to live in the area, according to a new housing survey commissioned by the Lake District National Park Authority through its 'Investing in Communities' programme.
The Housing Needs Survey – based on questionnaires to more than 5,000 residential and business address in Windermere, Bowness, Troutbeck Bridge and Storrs – says it is critical that the 156 properties are built to sustain the long term viability of t
he community.
The survey was carried out in early December by Cumbria Rural Housing Trust and arc4 consultancy, with the support of Windermere Town Council and South Lakeland District Council.
LDNPA Policy Planner Paula Allen thanked all those who had taken part in the survey, both by post and on-line. Excluding holiday properties, the excellent response rate to the survey was nearly 30 per cent.
"We now have a great deal of really valuable information. We hope that by working with partner organisations we can help to deliver more affordable housing in this area in order to support and maintain the vibrancy of the community," she added.
Windermere property prices on the open market currently range between £200,000 and £350,000 for a semi-detached house and between £340,000 and £665,000 for a detached property – nearly 40 per cent higher than in the rest of South Lakeland.
"It is fair to say that without considerable financial assets, accessing the housing market in Windermere would be very difficult. In the interests of longer-term community sustainability, it is critical that delivering new affordable housing in Windermere Parish remains high on the political agenda," the report explains.
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