St Agnes Parish
HOUSING NEED SURVEY REPORT
Date: 7th September 2022
Version: 1.0 · Status: Final Report
Author: Affordable Housing Team, Cornwall Council
affordablehousing@cornwall.gov.uk · 01872 326353
Summary
- Survey carried out Jan–Feb 2022, sent to 4,096 households, 613 responses (15%).
- 218 (36%) households in housing need; 94% of these with a local connection.
- 48% want to live anywhere in the parish; 38% in St Agnes; 2% outside parish; 12% in Wheal Rose, Mt Hawke or Porthtowan.
- 47% interested in self-build.
- 142 hidden households identified, 90% with local connection.
1. Introduction
Cornwall Council determines local housing need at parish level through Homechoice. Rural surveys supplement this with insights on local need, community support and hidden demand. Surveys are snapshots and complement Homechoice and Help to Buy South data.
2. Survey Purpose
St Agnes Parish NDP requires a Housing Need Survey every 5 years. This report fulfils that requirement.
2.1 Current Housing Need Information
220 households with local connection seeking affordable rented housing via Homechoice. 61% prefer to live in the parish, St Agnes most popular.
2.2 Help to Buy South
66 households registered to buy affordable housing in St Agnes. 62% need 2-bed, 24% 3-bed, rest 1–4 beds.
3. Survey Methodology
3.1 Location and Geographic Extent
St Agnes Parish is scenic, bordered by Atlantic Ocean, part of World Heritage and AONB. NDP vision: thriving communities and protected environment.
3.2 Methodology
Survey carried out Jan–Feb 2022. Letters sent to households with online/paper options.
3.3 Survey Structure
Sections: general housing circumstances, affordable housing circumstances, opinions on affordable housing, equalities monitoring.
3.4 Report Format
Responses separated into “housing need” and “not in need”. Equalities data collected but not reported.
4. Survey Data
4.1 Response Rate
4,096 households invited, 613 responses (15%) considered statistically significant.
4.2 Analysis of Sample
218 households in need, 395 not in need.
4.3 Housing Need Group
Breakdown of tenure:
| Tenure | % |
|---|---|
| Private rented | 43% |
| Living with relatives/friends | 34% |
| Owned with mortgage | 7% |
| HA rented | 6% |
| Owned outright | 4% |
| Council rent | 3% |
| Shared ownership | 1% |
| Tied accommodation | 1% |
4.4 Local Connection
205 out of 218 (94%) have a local connection (criteria: residency, family, work, etc.).
4.5 Bedroom Need
| Bedrooms | Households | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 94 | 43% |
| 2 | 78 | 36% |
| 3 | 37 | 17% |
| 4+ | 9 | 4% |
4.6 Affordability
Household income bands assessed; majority earn below £30,000, limiting open-market options.
4.7 Self-Build
104 households (47%) interested in self-build opportunities.
4.8 Hidden Households
142 hidden households identified, not registered with Homechoice or Help to Buy South West. 128 with local connection.
5. Opinions on Affordable Housing
Majority supportive of more affordable housing in the parish. Concerns include infrastructure, services, and preserving environment.
6. Conclusion
- Significant need for affordable housing across the parish.
- Majority of demand for 1–2 bed homes, some larger homes required.
- Strong local connection among those in need.
- High interest in self-build.
Appendix A – Survey Form
Reproduces the full survey questions including demographics, housing need, affordability, local connection, and equalities.
Appendix B – Free Text Responses
Respondents’ additional comments on housing, affordability, infrastructure, and community needs.