Change in Housing Stock

6.5 According to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) there were approximately 2.27 million 3 dwellings in the South West in March 2005. However, the extent to which available housing stock and new housing development has kept pace with the changing population profile and household structures is an issue increasingly being debated.  Recent figures estimate that South West household numbers will increase from 2.21 million in 2006 to 2.75 million in 2026 (with an expected rise in population to 5.8 million over the same time period) 4 and as a result, demands for sufficient housing stock of adequate standard will continue to rise. For further information on household and population projections: DCLG Household and Populations Projections March 2006

6.6 The South West's dwelling stock increased by approximately one third of a million dwellings between 1991 and 2006. There were 2,269,000 dwellings in the South West in 2005 (DCLG 2006). The South West continues to record the greatest percentage increase in housing stock of all the England regions since 1991. At 15%, house building continues at a rate well above the England average (10%) and similar to growth in other regions - 14% in the East of England and 13.8% and 13% in the East Midlands and South East region respectively (DCLG 2006).

6.7 These regional trends in house building mask the wide variations in development at a sub-regional level. Emerging regional plans (known as Regional Spatial Strategies) recognise the differing pressures and opportunities that arise across an area and set housing targets accordingly. The map shows the change in the number of dwellings across the South West between 2001 and 2004 and provides some indication of the location of new housing development in each local authority area. This shows that generally, the most rapid rates of development occurred in the most rural districts of the region.

Figure 6.1 Change in the Number of Dwellings 2001 to 2004, percentages (Popup full image) 
Change in the Number of Dwellings 2001 to 2004, percentages

6.8 A small number of Local Authorities are subject to revision as retrospective changes are continually being detected. Percentages for individual years (up to 2005) are available upon request from the Regional Assembly. Figures are also available from Local Authorities (within Local Development Framework Annual Monitoring Reports), although these are provided from their own resources and may not tally with published LUCS and DCLG data.