Meeting housing need

There is a wide range of housing in Wandsworth. At the end of 2006/07 there were 128,842 dwellings in the Borough, an increase of 2,414 on the previous year, and an estimated 124,931 households. Approximately a third of land use in Wandsworth is residential. The Council is the largest provider of social rented housing in the borough. The 2001 Census showed that the majority of household spaces in the Borough were purpose built flats followed by terraced properties and converted/shared houses. The majority of households in the Borough were either owned outright or owned with a mortgage or a loan.

There is a high level of migration both in and out of the Borough. It is estimated that some 18,000 dwellings (15% of the total housing stock) currently change hands each year. Of these more than half are estimated to go to existing Wandsworth residents and the rest to in-migrants.

The 2001 Census also showed that Wandsworth has the largest number of working households with 20-39 year old residents in London, more households with at least one employed person and within this a higher proportion having two or more employed people. This should be considered when considering the affordability of homes in the Borough.

Wandsworth continues to have the highest number of house sales within the South West region. In 2006 9,063 sales were recorded in Wandsworth in comparison to 7,862 in Croydon, 6,348 in Lambeth and 5,270 in Richmond. In Wandsworth, there continues to be a significant number of flats coming on the market, which sell for prices below that of some flats within "affordable" schemes.

In the 10 year period 1997 to 2006 9,847 net dwellings (60% of the London Plan target for Wandsworth) were completed, an annual average of 985 dwellings. Since 2001/02 6,308 (net) additional homes have been completed, an average of 1,051 a year. In 2006/07 there were 1,280 net dwelling completions of which 239 (16%) were affordable. This is compared to 10% in 2005/06. Between 2002 and 2006 916 (net) affordable homes were completed as compared to a target of 1,000.

Almost half the new council homes completed in London last year were built by Wandsworth Council. Government figures for 2006 show that councils built just 98 new homes for renting to local people in need. Of these, 47 were in Wandsworth. All the Wandsworth properties have been funded through the council's innovative 'hidden homes' programme.

The numbers of households presenting as homeless has fallen significantly in recent years with 2006/07 seeing the lowest number of presentations (1,399) since 1997/98. Acceptances have fallen in line with this reaching in 2006/07 their lowest level since 1998/99.

In terms of the Decent Homes Standard the Council has achieved its target of 0% non decent homes during 2007/08, well ahead of the Government deadline of 2010.

We would like to maintain Wandsworth's reputation as a great place to live through supporting the provision of Decent Homes, new homes and, a mix of housing for the Borough's growing population covering a range of needs but within a context of sustainability.

To find out more about meeting housing need in Wandsworth look at the Profile of Wandsworth. This will also give you a picture of the practical steps we want to take. Tell us what you think by completing the online questions.