The Old Granary Penstock Hall Farm East Brabourne TN25 … · 3 Staplehurst Housing Survey 2010 1....

Staplehurst HousingSurvey 2010

Tessa O’Sullivan –Rural Housing Enabler

With the support of:

Staplehurst Parish Council

Staplehurst Rural Settlement Group

Maidstone Borough Council

The Old Granary Penstock Hall Farm East Brabourne TN25 5LL

Tel: 01303 813790

2 Staplehurst Housing Survey 2010

CONTENTS

1. Executive Summary 3

2. Method 4

Section 1

3. Introduction to Section 1 by SRSG 5

4. Results of Section 1 6

5. Summary of findings to Section 1 11

6. Appendix S1 – Infrastructure comments 13

7. Appendix S2 – Analysis of infrastructure comments 39

8. Appendix S3 – Respondents’ comments to Q15 43

Section 2

9. Introduction to Section 2 57

10. Background Information to Local Needs Housing Schemes 57

11. Results of Section 2 58

12. Local Housing Costs 63

13. Assessment of Housing Need 65

14. Summary of findings to Section 2 74

15. Appendix S4 – Respondents’ comments to Q28 75

16. Appendix S5 – Letter to Parishioner and Housing Survey form 79


1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) worked with Staplehurst Parish Council, Staplehurst Rural Settlement Group (SRSG) and Maidstone Borough Council to undertake a parish wide housing survey.

The survey was in two sections; the aim of the first section was to gain the views of the community relating to plans for new housing development in the Staplehurst area likely to arise from Maidstone Borough Council’s Local Development Framework. SRSG wanted to ensure they could represent the community’s views in responding to any proposals for new housing development.

Analysis of Section 1 found that: • 454 (64%) respondents indicated that they would not support more housing development in

Staplehurst. • From respondents who would support more development, 157 (22%) felt that affordable

housing for people with a connection to the parish was needed. • 601 (85%) respondents felt that the current infrastructure would not support more housing. • The most frequent comments related to Transport and Retail. • 258 (36%) respondents indicated that they would be seeking to move home within the next

3 – 10 years. • The most frequently given reasons for seeking to move were due to retirement, needing a

larger home and needing a smaller home. • 215 (84%) respondents who are seeking to move wanted to buy on the open market.

The aim of the second section of the survey was to find out if there are shortfalls in affordable housing provision for households with local connections to Staplehurst parish.

The assessment of housing need shows that for a first time buyer to be able to afford entry level market housing, an income of over £29,000 would be needed to buy a small 1 bedroom terraced house in Staplehurst. An income of over £33,000 would be needed to buy a 2 bedroom apartment. A deposit of at least 15% would also be required in order to obtain a mortgage. To rent a 2 bedroom terraced house an income of over £42,000 would be required.

Analysis of Section 2 also found that: • The need for affordable housing was fairly evenly spread between single people, couples and

families • The majority of people in housing need wanted shared ownership • The largest group of people in housing need (49%) were in the age group 25 – 44

Overall, a need for up to 48 affordable homes, for the following local households was identified; they are

• 17 single people • 15 couples without children • 16 families.


2. METHOD

The Rural Housing Enabler from Action with Communities in Rural Kent agreed the format of the survey and covering letter with the Parish Council and SRSG.

A survey was posted to every household within the parish of Staplehurst in September 2010.

Surveys were returned in pre paid envelopes to Action with Communities in Rural Kent. Copies of the survey were available for anyone who had left the parish and wished to return to complete, these were held by the Clerk to the Parish Council. It was asked that completed survey forms were returned by 14th October 2010. All surveys received at Action with Communities in Rural Kent by the 14th October are included in this report.

Approximately 2352 surveys were distributed with 711 surveys being returned, representing a 30% response rate.

Some surveys were not fully completed therefore the results are shown for the total answers to each question.

Disclaimer The ‘comments’ and ‘opinions’ recorded within this document are personal and those provided by the Respondents and do not represent the views of Action with Communities in Rural Kent, Staplehurst Parish Council or Maidstone Borough Council. Whilst every effort has been made to keep the ‘comments’ complete, we make no guarantees, express or implied, about the accuracy or reliability of any comments recorded.

Any comments considered to be offensive, have been removed from all Appendices.

Any unauthorised use of the comments or survey is prohibited.


3. SECTION 1 – STAPLEHURST HOUSING SURVEY

Introduction to Section 1 by Staplehurst Rural Settlement Group

A Rural Service Centre Workshop for Core Strategy, facilitated by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) took place on 25 th November 2009 involving 6 villages including Staplehurst.

In order to prepare for this workshop, a public meeting was held in Staplehurst on the 16 th

November 2009, following which a number of local residents and parish councillors agreed to attend the Workshop.

Residents were against the proposals for development of new homes as the current infrastructure did not support any increase in the population. The infrastructure was and is unsustainable.

On the day of the Workshop, it was clear that Staplehurst were the only Parish Council to send a mixed delegation of local residents and parish councillors.

MBC highlighted research that indicated a huge misunderstanding as to how communities worked and how important it was to ensure settlements were places where people actually wanted to live.

Following the Workshop, it was agreed to form the Staplehurst Rural Settlement Group (SRSG) which would report to Staplehurst Parish Council (SPC). The SRSG currently consists of 6 residents and 5 parish councillors.

Early research established the need for a Housing Survey, in order to have an objective view of current public opinion whilst establishing the need for affordable housing.

The SRSG continues to monitor developments within the Local Development Framework and Core Strategy and will seek to be at the forefront of planned public consultation on the Core Strategy in early 2011.


4. RESULTS OF SECTION 1 – STAPLEHURST HOUSING SURVEY

All respondents were asked to complete section 1 of the survey. Some surveys were not fully completed therefore the results are shown for the total answers to each question.

Question 1. Would you support more housing development within Staplehurst Parish?

Yes No

Frequency

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

241 Yes 454 No

65% of respondents who answered the question (64% of all returned surveys) said they would not support more housing development.

Question 2. If yes, what types of housing do you think are needed in the Parish? Respondents could indicate all options that applied.

Frequency 0

Flats/bedsits Rented housing Housing for sale

Shared ownership Sheltered housing

Family homes Housing for older people Housing for young people

Affordable housing for people with a clear and established connection with the parish

26 Flats/bedsits 44 Rented housing 49 Housing for sale 55 Shared ownership 67 Sheltered housing 80 Family homes 105 Housing for older people 122 Housing for young people 157 Affordable housing for people with a clear and established connection with the parish

157 (22%) respondents who answered question 2 thought that affordable housing for people with a clear and established connection with the parish was needed and 122 (17%) thought that housing for young people was needed.


Question 3. Do you think the current infrastructure will support more housing?

Yes No

Frequency

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

82 Yes 601 No

88% of people who answered the question (85% of all returned surveys) thought that the current infrastructure would not support more housing.

Question 4. If no, what infrastructure would you like to see developed, improved or added to?

There were 527 responses to this question. A full list of comments and an analysis of responses can be found in Appendix S1 and S2.

Question 5. What type of housing do you live in?

Frequency 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

Owner Occupier

Private rented

Housing Association

Tied tenancy

Living with relatives

Paid lodging

642 Owner Occupier 32 Private rented 20 Housing Association 5 Tied tenancy 1 Living with relatives 0 Paid lodging

92% of respondents who answered the question are owner occupiers.


Question 6. Have any members of your household left the parish in the last few years?

196 respondents said that at least one member of their household had left the parish in the last few years; this is a total of 332 people. The reasons for leaving are illustrated in the graph below.

Frequency 60 40 20 0

Employment

To attend university/college

Other

Lack of affordable housing

75 Employment 62 To attend university/college 60 Other 48 Lack of affordable housing

The most frequently given reason for leaving the parish (31%) was for employment.

Question 7. If you were to consider a move, what would be the most important factors? (Please tick all boxes that apply)

Most important Factors Number of responses Percentage To remain in Staplehurst 259 36 Affordability/price 394 55 Size of property 390 55 Public transport 316 44 Schools 158 22 Shops 388 55 Health centre GP 350 49 Leisure/sports centre 145 20 Security and safety 352 50 Close to relatives or friends 210 30 Having own self contained accommodation

151 21

Availability of scheme manager/warden

29 4

Communal facilities e.g. shared lounge

6 1

Level access 50 7 Purpose built DDA compliant 5 1


Question 8. Are you seeking to move home in the future?

Not seeking to move Next 3 years Next 10 years Next 5 years

Frequency

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

427 Not seeking to move 101 Next 3 years 83 Next 10 years 74 Next 5 years

Question 9. What is your primary reason for seeking to move? (Tick 1 box only)

Reason seeking to move Number of responses Percentage Present home in need of major repair 1 0 Present home too expensive 13 5 Current home affecting health 1 0 First independent home 6 2 Setting up home with partner or friends 3 1 Cannot afford mortgage 4 2 Need smaller home 48 20 Private tenancy ending 8 3 To be nearer family 17 7 Sheltered accom due to age/infirmity 10 4 To be nearer work 5 2 Divorce/separation 4 2 Need larger home 54 22 Disabled/infirmity. Does not cater for my needs 7 3 Retirement 57 24 New job 3 1

Question 10. What type of housing would you be seeking in Staplehurst?

Type of housing Number of responses Percentage Flat 7 2 House 148 53 Bungalow 56 20 Accommodation suitable for older persons without support

34 12

Sheltered housing 11 4 Extra Care housing 6 2 Other 19 12


Question 11. Which tenure would you prefer?

Frequency 200 150 100 50 0

Buying on open market

Renting Housing Association

Shared ownership Housing Association

Private renting Other

Lodging

215 Buying on open market 22 Renting Housing Association 11 Shared ownership Housing Association 5 Private renting 2 Other 0 Lodging

84% of respondents who answered the question would prefer to buy on the open market.

Question 12. How many bedrooms would you need?

1 2 3 4 5+

Frequency

100

80

60

40

20

0

10 1 82 2 119 3 43 4 10 5+

The majority of respondents who answered the question (45%) said they would need 3 bedrooms.

Question 13. Which method of transport is usually used by members of your household to travel to their place of work? (Please tick all that apply) It should be noted that the category ‘Motorbike’ was added after the surveys had been distributed due to a comment received by a motorbike user. It is possible that other motorbike users selected the option ‘Bike’.

Frequency 400 300 200 100 0

Own car Train Walk Bus Bike

Car share Taxi

Motorbike

456 Own car 198 Train 106 Walk 82 Bus 39 Bike 14 Car share 7 Taxi 1 Motorbike


Question 14. How many vehicles are usually available for use by the household?

0 1 2 more than 2

Frequency

250

200

150

100

50

0

5 0 266 1 267 2 72 more than 2

44% of respondents to this question have 2 cars and 44% have one car available for use by the household.

Question 15. Is there anything else you would like to add in relation to housing development or affordable housing?

There were 208 responses to this question. A full list of comments can be found in Appendix S3.

5. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS TO SECTION 1

64% of all respondents would not support more housing development within Staplehurst parish. 157 (22%) respondents who would support more housing, thought that affordable housing for people with a clear and established connection was needed, followed by housing for young people.

85% of all respondents thought that the current infrastructure would not support more housing. Respondents were asked what infrastructure they would like to see developed, improved or added to. There were 527 responses to this question; the areas most frequently mentioned were:

• Transport (including bus and train services, roads and parking) • Retail (including number and type of shops, a larger supermarket and the Parade)

The survey found that 332 people have left the parish in the last few years; 31% of those people left for employment.

The three most important factors if respondents were to consider a move are: affordability/price, size of property and shops.

36% of respondents indicated that they would be seeking to move within the next 3 – 10 years; their primary reasons for seeking to move were due to needing a larger home, a smaller home and retirement. The majority of these respondents would be seeking a 3 bedroom house and would want to buy it on the open market.

50% of respondents travel to their place of work in their own car, 22% take the train and 12% walk. 44% of respondents have 1 car available for use by the household and 44% have 2 cars available.


6. APPENDIX S1 Question 4. What infrastructure would you like to see developed, improved or added

to?

Better shopping, supermarket and town facilities. Swimming pool? Decent healthcare centre!

A large supermarket e.g. Tesco. Even if I need a basic item, I have to drive to Headcorn, Cranbrook or Maidstone.

More facilities for the youths (1117). Present shopping facilities adequate but would need to increase supermarket facilities which would ultimately lead to the downfall of the small businesses that form an important sector in the village community.

Staplehurst has already very large housing estates and we do not wish to see these grow in size anyway. It is already a "commuters" village and needs to be contained not expanded.

Food shops currently not efficient enough for current number of residents. Health Centre more doctors required, quite often very difficult to see a GP on day of calling.

Drainage, schools, shops, parking.

Drainage, better public transport.

Modern, attractive village centre preferably near centre. More public green space. New development to have good cycle/pathways. Parking? Increased bus service frequency.

Allotments.

Better supermarket with parking, off road parking on housing estates.

Shopping facilities but I do not support the further overdevelopment of the current shopping area.

Would not. I moved here because of the size of community (small) I would oppose further development.

All schooling, shopping facilities, parking facilities, after school/youth clubs, better medical centre, better road layouts etc, better policing.

Improved water drainage, more facilities for young children e.g. playground with facilities e.g. cafe/toilets. Better bus services. Improve shops landscaping around shops needs updating around library etc. Need to attract more shop holders into Staplehurst, maybe have a farmers market by the library separate to the station market.

More police involvement and strict rules for young people.

Widening of roads not only for safe driving but to accommodate the increasing number of HGV now taking up road use and also farming tractors.

Better shopping & parking facilities.

Improved bus service, 1/2 hour service to Maidstone


Public transport improved with more and later/earlier services, especially at weekends (trains and buses). A sports centre would benefit the community young and old a large supermarket is a necessity.

Sewage, guest houses, shops i.e. supermarket, quality roads.

Modern village hall, wider range of shops, centrally sited coffee bar.

None, overcrowded and over populated now.

Speed cameras on A229 from station to the quarter. Traffic calming through village/secondary roads.

More shops, another doctor’s surgery, separate from Malling Heath. A bigger pharmacy, the centre is the same as it was prior to the development of estates. Estate after estate has been added, but the centre has remained the same and the number of shops has shrunk. There is too much housing in Staplehurst. No more houses for sale. However, affordable housing for LOCAL PEOPLE is required.

A substantial supermarket, a village bypass for A229.

Shops (particularly pharmacy) and drainage (sewage)

A variety of shops and a larger superstore

More shops (a supermarket) ideally a supermarket with parking facilities on the outskirts of Staplehurst. Tesco in Tenterden is ideal. Larger car park at railway station. Parking is desperately needed at the Parade.

Parade of shops

Better policing especially shops area. Better doctors and availability/accessibility supermarket.

Bypass to relieve volume of traffic through the village. Increased/enhanced surface water drainage system. Better selection of shops.

Shops that people need too many estate agents and take aways. Decent supermarket, nice bakery with tea room. Smarten up the shopping area.

A large supermarket, better shops and a better parade.

Doctors, schools, shops.

The village would need a larger school, larger better staffed health centre and more parking facilities.

Retail Shopping

Drainage and sewers appear to be at limit of capacity.

Better shops, leisure facilities and transport.

None, as believe housing development should not occur. Highways will not be possible to develop adequately.


As a developing community I believe we should have a supermarket like Tesco or Sainsburys, making use of land near to the station.

Shopping facilities and the Parade need improving/adding to.

Transport current road system does not support volume, especially of those passing through. Schools no secondary schools and practically full primary schools. Shops current shopping site is privately owned. Need to expand elsewhere, but no doubt a bone of contention.

More parking areas.

More commuter trains, more shops/cafes, supermarket, roads already very busy, no gym.

Present infrastructure adequate for existing number of houses.

Better facilities and shops.

Large supermarket, working man’s club, leisure centre.

Sewers need renewing and extending. Proper village hall. Proper shopping centre. Proper bus services.

A supermarket, a larger school, more shops.

Decent supermarket, more frequent bus service.

More and varied shops.

Shops especially a supermarket.

Transport links i.e. bus services, range of local shops, better secondary school provision.

Better car parking near local shops, another small store like Tesco? Improve car park at station, or use land for Tesco!

A larger supermarket, gym.

Traffic Management (speed and parking)

Our doctors all seem to be overstretched. Each time there is a new home/family in Staplehurst the health centre has to take on these new patients.

Better shopping.

Ambulance, fire station, supermarket.

A new shopping complex designed in true Kentish style. A sports complex to serve Staplehurst. (No more housing without future appropriate infrastructure please)

Better shopping, parking and transport facilities.

No police station (needed), no restaurants (needed), no car parking (needed), no cafes (needed). Only one nonmainstream grocery (affordable supermarkets needed), only one cash till (more needed)


If no more properties are built the present infrastructure should be ok.

Sewage, Drainage and Parking.

Adequate shops supermarket is a real must.

Insufficient shopping facilities and parking, extra school places limited.

Shops hardware, haberdasher, Sainsburys, more buses at least 1 every half an hour.

It would be utterly ridiculous to have housing development on a large scale as we do not have the facilities to cope. Few shops and no supermarket necessitating the present residents to have to go outside the village for shopping.

Shops, rail parking, improved roads and leisure facilities including restaurants. Village hall (present premises is poor)

More police presence, more parking areas by the shops

Car Parking

A better bus service to Maidstone (i.e. every 30 mins) and a better supermarket.

Supermarket at the station.

More shops, more employment.

More shopping facilities i.e. better supermarkets, road/pavement repairs.

Bypass, pavements made suitable for wheelchairs and motorbility scooters. Supermarket, new sewerage farm, no more travellers’ sites.

More shops. Could the sewage system cope with any more housing? Could the Health Centre & Dentist cope with more people?

Water supply and disposal, public transport, roads, gas supply and schools.

A supermarket and public transport.

A better supermarket than Spar, a chemist which can deal efficiently with prescriptions, resident and committed full time doctors, a bypass for the village.

The centre of Staplehurst desperately needs updating and revitalising with a larger variety of shops appealing to visitors and residents alike e.g. coffee shop, electric goods, book shop, arts and crafts and an alternative to the Spar. There is no 'heart' unlike Cranbrook and Headcorn.

Better shops and transport.

Diversity of shopping/leisure activities. More frequent bus services.

Improved supermarket, empty shops let.

Fire Brigade, Parking Facilities (free) and medical/chemist that actually works continuity of doctors.


In 40 years the village has more than quadrupled in size yet we still only have one central shopping area with one supermarket not nearly enough more stores needed.

Improve road network (take traffic away from village)

Better water supplier

More housing = more people, more traffic and congestion the station area for parking is already a nightmare. This is basically a village with the population of a town, that says it all!

Supermarket, drainage, secondary schools.

Better public transport, can school cope? Water issues, threat of flooding. Shop near station parking.

Better parking, safer roads, better shops, less congestion around shop area, supermarket, better doctor’s practice.

Good larger supermarket, car parks, village hall large enough to cater for entertainment. Schools and doctors etc can they cater? Improved access at station approach. More pedestrian crossings. Lower speed limit for vehicles.

More choice in shops, increase leisure facilities.

Better and more variety of shops. Roads already extremely busy. Schools, doctors, dentist, jobs, policing. Leisure for all ages.

I believe the present infrastructure is about right.

The village should not be changed I moved from a suburban area to a village for reasons of overcrowding, traffic problems, noise, crime.

More shopping facilities, leisure sport facilities, better public transport.

Public transport, doctors/chemists.

Better bus service supermarket.

Community building that could be used for a wide variety of things dances, youth club ECT. Shops to cater for children’s school uniform, sewage up date.

More shops like we used to have.

Bypass

I can't believe Staplehurst doesn't have a supermarket considering how many people live here. Allotments would be very good.

Secondary school in area, supermarket.

If there was any further development there will be a need for increased medical facilities and the current traffic situation would become unbearable, so the bypass would be necessary.


What infrastructure that exists now is just about sufficient for the current population. I do not think Staplehurst should expand.

Shopping facilities, school.

A supermarket is needed, and also a bypass.

Bypass.

Primary School is at capacity, would KCC provide more classrooms, teachers and funding? Drains inadequate at present. Roads cannot take more traffic. No parking in Staplehurst. Need more carriages of trains. More parking at station. Water/sewage, Shops, Leisure, Childrens' Clubs.

Better facilities i.e. new village hall and shops.

New supermarket, additional parking at train station, more social facilities for young people and possibly school capabilities and related infrastructure.

Better shopping facilities

Primary school capacity will need increasing. Nearby supermarket. Village centre parking needs to be improved.

Car parking, toilets.

Leisure/sports facilities/schools.

Sports Hall

Sewage system cannot take current use at peak times, new pumping station is required in Frittenden Road. A really good technical school required to take pressure off the daily bussing out. Medical provision needs overhauling. Too many locums no dedicated doctors.

A decent supermarket, larger premises for pharmacy, a decent community centre present village centre falling into disrepair.

If more housing built we would need more parking (at station and in village parade area and bell Lane), larger primary school. Probably more shops and bigger library. Certainly road improvement, A229, side roads, surface and widths. More attention paid to monitoring 30mph speed limit through village and anti social activities of the yobs.

Build flats opposite the station (train) along Lodge Road. But not George Street or Clapper Lane. The traffic solution should involve linking Greenhill and Lodge Road.

Car parking, more varied shops, public toilets.

Shops, schools, doctors, policing.

Improved bus service, more shop development i.e. Tesco site at railway, more businesses. Greater provision needed in terms of medical including NHS dentist, schooling and services. The road system would need reviewing.

Improved drainage, present school would surely not be able to cope with increase in pupil numbers. I would like to see a major supermarket with petrol station, the latter to reduce rip off pricing.


Another medical centre and pharmacy, ours can’t cope.

Supermarket

Improved retail outlets

A leisure centre with swimming pool, providing locals with good sporting facilities. Somewhere young people can go, rather them hanging around local shops bored.

Supermarket, community hall for both old and young

More varied shops in the centre. Supermarket at the station area. Relief roads to take traffic away from A229. New community centre redevelop village centre site.

Shopping facilities, leisure facilities gym, sports hall etc

I would not like to see any further developments if this continues.

Village needs a supermarket

A second primary school and possibly secondary school would be needed. Better transport links (buses) better shops

School added to sewage farm added to, drainage improved

Drainage, secondary school, more shops, fibre optic broadband

Clearly utilities will need to be increased (if necessary) in line with the additional demand.

Schooling, shops, leisure facilities and public transport

The whole of the infrastructure for this parish requires a thorough overhaul

Better range of shops to suit village life. No drastic changes. Keep village as a village.

Spend the road/fuel tax, council tax on mending resurface including existing roads, estate roads.

Demolish and rebuild shops in centre of village. Allow Tesco or similar to build and redevelop railway area

The above being related to the provision of more shops and parking without any penalties particularly for those living in the parish

The parade of shops is already inadequate with poor parking and congestion. The school is too small. The village community centre is too small and antiquated

Supermarket nearby

Bigger supermarket i.e. Tesco. More recreation facility, swimming pool

Shops, school, transport, parking at station, capacity of doctors and dentists

No further development or infrastructure as we do not want to see more changes.


More shops/schools/GPs surgeries.

Improved shopping facilities, restaurant.

Varied retail outlets.

More shops

Improve drainage, water supply, telecoms network, power networks. Leisure pursuits, more decent shops, increased parking, school spaces, dedicated area on trading estate for small business start ups, proper local policing with dedicated officers per village.

The infrastructure as it exists is woefully inadequate for the scale of the development that currently exists.

School, doctor surgery.

Better parking, toilets, shops.

More parking at station, better range of shops, enforced speed limit through village.

Better supermarket, one that offers greater choice of products, healthier options.

Village centre parking, leisure facilities, village centre (shops etc), school needs enlarging. Local jobs, more buses to/from Maidstone, more clubs/activities for children.

Need that bypass, more shops. Slowly move east with a good road to Headcorn and the shops or we will finish in Malling.

Shops, parking, surgery and pharmacy not coping now, traffic overload at crossroads and Station Approach. More frequent buses.

More to occupy youth, more village centre parking.

Roads, medical care, shops, restaurants.

Improved shopping options, better public transport, better parking, policing, in addition why build in a country location with limited employment? We also disagree with building on green field sites when town have many brownfield sites!

In my opinion, Staplehurst is in danger of becoming a vast housing estate.

Better variety of shops as in 1960s.

Shops

School improvements, drainage, road bypass.

Currently village does not have sufficient policing, retail outlets, parking and traffic controls to accommodate more housing developments.

Bypass


A bypass is necessary to take through traffic (particularly heavy lorries) away from the village. Water supply.

Shopping facilities, a modern centralised village hall. Village centre not fit for purpose and needs modernisation.

More parking for shops, post office scruffy parade! Overcrowded school, not enough shops, supermarket required for the size of the town.

Bypass for the village, speeding traffic control. Better medical services, better and more affordable food shops, better parking areas, better choice of shops.

Supermarket!

A bypass along the originally proposed route will create a central area of land suitable for housing and other infrastructure. It would also permit the development of the village centre and create a safer, healthier environment along the existing high street.

Shops and parking.

More shops, more community facilities, sports hall, significant renovation to village centre.

I am happy in Staplehurst as it is. Further development would in my opinion change it from a large friendly village to a more impersonal town.

Decent supermarket, bypass to encourage development of shops within the Parade, leisure facilities.

Shops and better public transport.

Traffic through the village and the local shops is far too great for the current roads infrastructure, let alone for any future development.

Need for a decent supermarket, development of parade.

Leave 'the village' alone. We are just about coping now despite the paucity of decent shops.

Bypass, more shops/facilities, cafe.

The A229 is not a wide enough road to cope with the current 500/700 cars per day. By increasing the development will put more strain on a road that is already noisy, dangerous and floods.

Encourage sustained local shops to serve the community.

Better parking, shopping (supermarket), speed restriction on main road for increasing number of cars.

Increased public transport, reduce cost of existing services (i.e. trains). Activities for youngsters so they don't keep getting drunk in the park and littering. Speed cameras to maintain control.

Permanent police officer and presence in village.

Sewerage, something to keep teenagers off the streets.

Leisure facilities for the youth.


Encourage more small retail businesses e.g. hardware, gift shops, boutique, coffee shops. Small fast food outlet such as KFC. Increased industrial units and office space. Better public transport. More convenient and competitive shopping. Improved pedestrian crossings. Increased road safety, particularly reduced speed limits on the estates and through the village. Greater supervision of open spaces; particularly where children gather.

There are not enough schools, shops, public transport. Current sewers are at maximum capacity, more community policing required, increase in roads. Village life will be made urban life which is not Staplehurst. It has grown to its capacity at present; also childcare facilities are not in abundance.

Better shops than a betting shop and estate agents. More restaurants than pubs. More leisure facilities, a gym or even swimming pool and spa with health and beauty treatments.

A bypass, speed enforcement throughout the entire length of the A229.

Bigger supermarket such as the Tesco which we were promised years ago. More suitable car parking provision at the Parade.

More local shopping facilities. Current arrangements for prescriptions from the chemist are slow, and would need to be changed with an increase in population. Greater police presence, particularly after dark. Some leisure facilities, swimming pool/squash/gym.

New or enlarged primary school, new food store.

Sewerage, roads, policing, schooling, shopping facilities with adequate free parking. Youth pursuit/activity facilities. Increased bus services local entertainment facilities.

I do not wish Staplehurst to grow any bigger. I feel it has lost its community feel which it had when we moved here in the 70s. Sadly Staplehurst has lost its appeal and we would not wish to retire here.

Schools, shops/parking.

Schools, public transport, shops, road bypass.

None no more housing

Only a small amount, no big estates. No leisure facilities or a modern village hall in the village to encourage drama or other activities.

Cafe, supermarket.

School would need expanding. Chemist unable to cope with present demand.

Staplehurst is populous enough and with the through traffic on the A229, cannot cope with an increase in traffic. The road infrastructure would need redesigning.

A significant improvement is needed at the parade and a big name supermarket (Tesco, Sainsbury or similar) is also needed. A bypass is also a consideration for the future.

School, roads, community buildings

More parking for shopping


Better food shopping outlets

Shops a supermarket, e.g. Sainsbury, Tesco. Water and drainage, utilities etc

Transport (public) car parking at rail station and in village. Medical facilities, public open space (park)

School, roads and transport, water supply, broadband, medical centre resources All facilities of infrastructure to be improved

Improved shops/secondary school/leisure facilities

Totally unfair if you go to work and don’t fiddle the system you can’t get any help. Help given to people who go to work and have paid into the system.

More trains, better bus connections, improved roads, shopping improved.

More suitable shops (supermarket) bigger school

Local shops are not good. Need some sort of completion e.g. not just SPA. Staplehurst is not a village any more. Bus service is disgraceful.

More shops, i.e. Tesco. More sport areas. Swimming bath, tea rooms.

The village is currently too big for the amenities we have. We are in urgent need of something larger than a village shop (spar), can the health providers take anymore?

Shopping facilities, supermarket

Supermarket, more cycle path, zebra crossings on main road, down by the station Shops, community/sports centre

Extra shops, fire station, ambulance station, police station.

Decent supermarket (like Tesco)

More shops, better parking, village centre area more pedestrian friendly small supermarket, near station redeveloped village centre buildings and parade

The condition of the roads, particularly the A229 which still has unrepaired areas (road safety surface on corners near monk lane) from January 2010

Staplehurst free church as it is intended to be a community building for many and varied uses. Benefiting the whole of Staplehurst

Water, drainage, sewerage are inadequate at present. Sports facilities (indoor) are poor. Bus stops are poorly sited away from shops and library.

Better stopping area/parking

Improved public transport, mostly bus. The cost is too high, a bit of risk taking in cutting prices may see more use of bus, particularly at rush hour and so more people profit still made. A secondary school plus monitored supermarket, as so to keep local business open.


Would like to see improvement to shops, i.e. a cafe, Italian restaurant etc. At the moment Staplehurst does not really lend itself as somewhere to shop unless for groceries. Cranbrook as an example has a good array of shopping facilities, although the shopping area is bigger than Staplehurst.

More shops and facilities, bigger school

Better shops, more buses linking with Maidstone and Cranbrook. Larger primary school. Staplehurst own fully comprehensive secondary school.

More variety of shops, as there was in the past, allowing more decrease in housing to travel to other towns etc

The A229 blights and dominates Staplehurst and this would get worse with more development. There should be a complete or partial bypass and improved traffic distribution elsewhere. The primary school is already large and would lose its community feel with larger numbers still. The lack of secondary education here is a problem. Staplehurst children are not first in line for many schools and pressure on places is increasing with housing development elsewhere. Leisure and community facilities must increase in line with housing if we are to avoid being purely a dormitory town. The commercial/retail heart of the town needs to be protected and improved to remain community cohesion. The drainage is borderline.

A variation of shops

Parking for station and shops. Parking laybys on many estate roads, e.g. Bathhurst Road. Leisure facilities new village hall.

Improved

None we're big enough

Better community hall/facilities. Leisure/sports facilities. Improvements in diverting traffic away from village centre.

Too much traffic roads would not cope

All services.

The minor B roads in the parish are in a poor state of repair with many pot holes and broken edges and dips. The main roads are poorly drained in places. There are no main drains outside the village/town of the parish.

Better shops, no corals/off licence cheap looking shops. Less traffic. More activities for youngsters.

Better public transport to facilitate travel to social entertainment activities

More commercial development like shops and another supermarket

Increase train service from Staplehurst to London (incl Cannon Street and Charing Cross). Extra parking at the shops in High Street (free parking). Street cleaning (regularly) and regular police presence. Better infrastructure to support the village in its current state.


Poor transport links frequency of buses and trains. Poor community facilities all aging and not compliant with recent legislation. Poor parking facilities.

Local supermarket, funding to increase school size, road improvements.

Shops Staplehurst High Street is dying as shops and businesses close. Improved train services, improved frequency and move fast trains to London. Parking for shop and business customers for the High Street (Bell Lane is usually full, too far away and is accessed via steps, the parade car park needs more space to encourage more customers).

Greater accessibility for wheelchair users and pushchairs.

Villages Cranbrook, Staplehurst, Frittenden all share very small supermarket, coop not sufficient for peoples needs. Also would like to see local suppliers given affordable shop space. Car park at Staplehurst opposite Spar charges after 1 hour so you could no longer use hairdresser in Staplehurst to get hair cut.

There is a need to improve the roads that is to say the major roads as they meet at the traffic lights. The east/west link is very poor and needs an entirely new link. There are no shops of any significance so that the nearest supermarkets are either at Maidstone or Cranbrook. The policing of the village is substandard. These are a few of the problems that exist for the present population of the village. There is insufficient school availability in the village.

Staplehurst has a large population and the local infrastructure is ineffective. There is definitely the need for a supermarket.

Having moved to Staplehurst five years ago, the village seems well balanced to me. No more houses or cars, footpaths on all roads and more cycle paths

More school places would be needed at senior school level. Good schools, more buses and jobs. There is great lack of well paid jobs in/around Staplehurst.

A bypass for A229. Improve local recreational facilities i.e. gym. Improve train station covered waiting, more taxis.

Supermarket, police presence, doctors/health centre can’t cope at present, school will be overcrowded

Some existing accommodation adapted to provide selfcontained flats for older people who could then move and release their existing properties for sale.

If there is more housing then there would need to be more spaces at the school also more shops as these are already busy

Secondary schools locally are difficult to get into. Only I accept all pupils from Staplehurst. Others only accept on distance from school.

Shops, improved water and sewage systems and electricity improved

School, more accessible bus service, shops/post office

Better shopping facilities (supermarkets) for more choice of goods as well as food and improved bus services


Better shops, certainly a decent supermarket, school would need developing, better parking

The last time a Tesco was going to be built near station some time ago. Why did it stop! We need more supermarkets and some competition with the retailers, leisure facilities, swimming pool.

I would support affordable housing for local people

More shopping facility (and parking spaces)

More shops

Local roads are not ready for greater traffic. Limited local parking at shops/town centre etc

Police, shops, doctors

Shops, primarily food shops and a larger pharmacy

Shops, supermarket

Sewage treatment, mains drainage, bus services bypass for A228

Roads, congestion, water supply, low pressure at times

Improved shopping/leisure

The amenities do not balance with the amount of housing at this time. There needs to be an improvement in the general facilities to meet people’s demands.

Shops, doctors, school, dentist, drainage, village hall/centre

Shops

Improved shopping, wider variety. Leisure facilities (indoor especially)

Better traffic control, i.e. speed, better and more choice of shops

There are too many empty shop units in the village. We would benefit from having a Sainsbury and some coffee shops. Staplehurst School is a large school and I don’t think it could cope with additional pupils.

Depends on size of development envisaged! 510 houses infrastructure probably sufficient. 100 houses infrastructure probably insufficient schools, doctors etc

Bigger supermarket or additional supermarket plus increase parking near to shops. We have a large medical centre building but we need more doctors they do not seem to be able to cope with the current number of patients. I dread to think what would happen if the number of residents increased.

Main drains and sewerage, shopping facilities

Infrastructure currently highly insufficient. Very poor services. We need supermarket, better bus services, improved train services, better variety of shops, leisure facilities, secondary school School not able to accommodate more children. Drains would be unable to cope.


More amenities are vital. I’ve lived in Staplehurst for nearly 50 years. There are now less shops and amenities. Practically nothing for the young. To build more houses at this time is ludicrous. Plan for the now.

Supermarket

Greater number of shops. Both Cranbrook and Headcorn have better selection of retail outlets

We need a chain supermarket

Improved bus links and railway timetable. Better selection of local shops and superstore. Improved traffic control or bypass. Expansion to local primary school, better facilities for clubs

Sports complex and leisure facilities, affordable for pensioners

More shops, not so many pot holes in the roads

A large supermarket and improved shopping. A cafe in the library. Swimming pool leisure centre. Further development of sports facilities. Better access to shops for elderly/wheelchair users

Shops, roads, parking

Primary school would need to be enlarged. More shopping outlets needed

We are two retired people

More parking at the parade. Impossible to park in peak periods. More parking at the station. Proper parking for kebab shop or closed!!! Traffic lights at station approach been several crashes

More social clubs for youngsters to go instead of hanging around in crowds near the shops (some elderly are nervous of them)

Much better shopping facilities, more trains during commuting hours, more activities for children during school holidays for working parents. Better primary school education. I have my child at an independent school which meets the standards I expect from state education which is unfortunately lacking.

We need another supermarket and certainly more car parks

Additional primary school, secondary school/college, adult education facilities, supermarket, cafe/meeting place, fitness centre facility.

We need the shops promised when the estates were built (in 1970's). How much support to the infrastructure, do empty shops, a betting shop and many shops of the same type actually offer?

A large village of 6000+ people should have better shopping facilities (at least a supermarket on the outskirts). The nearest supermarket is about 910 miles away.

Shops, health care, parking, community facilities

No development of the infrastructure should even be considered.

More shopping facilities, more sports facilities, better parking at parade without fear of clamping


Larger supermarket and more shops

Village centre parking inadequate the whole area needs redeveloped. Start be demolishing the parade and reconstructing in a more sympathetic, more sustainable style suited to a village.

Social facilities for young. Improved drainage. More shops, more parking.

Significant development would bring improved amenities, e.g. a decent supermarket

A caravan site for travelling people to live as I and my family have no where to live

Supermarket/sports leisure centre

Updated sewerage disposal. More reliable electricity supply especially in rural area updated broadband facility local exchange faster service and bundled packages. A229 needs upgrading bypass!!!. Traffic lights and station approach car parking needs expanding in centre of village.

Supermarket, more pavements along busy rural roads, parking near shops. Better/more frequent bus service

Shops etc. This village has more houses than the amenities can serve. In the 46 years I have lived here Staplehurst village is slowly disappearing into a concrete mess with nothing to offer anyone. Kids have nowhere to go more houses more kids with nothing to do.

Present sewerage works aren't sufficient now, let alone with more houses. Not enough parking in village, centre of village is dying.

Shops, open spaces, allotments, doctors

A much larger supermarket which would enable people to do their weekly shopping in the village and might encourage the establishment of some speciality shops

All the private and social infrastructure need to be modernised and enlarged. More investment be encouraged in the area, cheaper rents etc.

Parade of shops/parking prefer to shop at Cranbrook or Headcorn. Long wait to get doc appointment already

More variety of shops, improved village centre, less parking on estate roads

In general better shopping, currently Staplehurst has the worst infrastructure or many surrounding villages

Shops/community centre

Health centre, school, qualified dentists nhs, more for youngsters, decent shopping. Need a major supermarket. Need a bypass so our roads can cope with the extra internal traffic, without dealing with through traffic

Better amenities for villages (variety shops more parking). Speed restriction enforcement measures on the A229 (camera, sleeping policeman) to slow traffic, redirection of freight vehicles.

Shops, parking, drainage


More modern facilities. Modern hall. I think someone should take a leaf out of Headcorns book

We need a supermarket and better parking near existing shops

Better sewage system, supermarket, bypass

Secondary school nearby is necessary already due to the amount of children in the village. More local shops making the village more like Cranbrook would be good. Better public transport.

Larger supermarket, modern purpose built village hall/centre. Leisure centre (similar to Tenterden)

Drainage, drain covers flood everytime it rains in Offens Drive outside my house. Lack of shops and amenities. Traffic lights at crossroads improved no filter lights or no leisure sports.

Shops, cafe, parking, bypass around A229 or traffic calming, more buses, public toilets Better and more varied retail and commercial units in centre.

Secondary school, bypass of village, healthcare, good quality supermarket, development of station area with shops and offices.

Current infrastructure is ok for existing housing, just more housing would require more school places, more doctors and dentists better public transport, improved local shops, more local jobs

More shops with parking. In particular a better pharmacy and cafe. Better school and health facilities. Much better traffic regulation through the village. Better buses more frequent and later

Parking spaces and shops

Shops, cafe and restaurants, parking, village centre, toilets, schools, child minding

Better shopping facilities with adequate parking not necessarily a supermarket. I don’t think this would be in the villages but interests, due to increased traffic

School, shops (especially supermarket), bypass, drainage system

Community facilities nursery/childcare/modern Not a supermarket. Community space flexible use.

Parking, bypass, doctors, chemist, proper policing

Supermarket

Schools (secondary) GP improved

Secondary school, farmers market, parking, community shops (not necessary large supermarkets), café

More frequent bus service

A bypass to reduce traffic flow on the A229. A footpath between Staple Drive and the High Street. Improvements to the drainage system particularly outside the village centre and adjacent to Loddenden Cottages.

Betters shops, secondary school


Gas, electricity, water, telecommunication, public transport – buses

More amenities in the village maybe a supermarket close by

Upgrading of sewage, drainage etc. That in existence cannot cope, frequent blockages and overspills. More useful shops like we had some years ago. More leisure facilities for middle ages

Larger supermarket with ample free parking with competitive petrol station attached this would bring trade to village

Road access to station and industrial estate from west to reduce heavy traffic through village

Sewerage

More so as to maintain a rural identity. Development would produce a Marden/Staplehurst/Headcorn. Kent has plenty of urban areas.

Enhanced traffic management (traffic lights at Cuckolds Cannon and at capacity). School places (including secondary schools). Bus and train capacity.

Shops, schooling, leisure for children

Supermarket

The A229 will not cope at peak times with extra traffic. Extra shops as proposed will decimate the aesthetic appeal of the village. Parking will be insufficient. Village life in general will be adversely affected.

Personally, I would like to see a hardware shop in the village shop parade for all those little things you need when doing jobs around the house and garden. Somewhere with facilities to show popular films and a pharmacy. Perhaps a little bus service within Staplehurst for the elderly and inform who cannot walk far and have to drive (if they have a car) or not go out without help.

No sports hall gym!

The road system needs developing, especially at crossroads

Sports hall with gym facilities

Shops like Cranbrook

Independent shops. Improvements, redecoration, updating of village centre. Or a new village centre to be built. Tescos shopping in the village

More facilities and clubs for young people to encourage play and involvement in the community to prevent boredom. More visual policy. I have never seen our local PC walking the streets. Encouraging householders to shop locally in order to keep the shop facilities we have.

More useful shops needed in village, e.g. a better quality local supermarket. The spar is expensive and has basic products only. 2 post offices like there used to be.

Better shopping. Station car parking, larger schools more for young people to do.

Drainage


No more houses you can’t look after what is already here to go out for a walk is a problem you risk having your eyes knocked out with over grown trees and hedges. Go out in your car is the same 3 to 4 cars per house is like driving on a course. Yellow lines up all roads on estates please, no more houses.

Water supply, more bus routes/coaches from Staplehurst.

Better shopping a decent supermarket and a variety of shops with parking.

Supermarket.

Redevelopment of the Parade, sports facilities, secondary school, increased visible policing, increased facilities for youth e.g. youth cafe.

Faster train lines, better roads with less congestion

Water supply, sewerage/sewage disposal.

None, leave it as it is, it will no longer be a village if made larger.

Improvements to parking available at village shops.

Shopping in Staplehurst needs improving and there is insufficient parking for users of the parade shops. Nearby roads are now mere parking lots and more houses will exacerbate the situation. Public transport is poor.

The current infrastructure is not sufficient for the existing housing. The parking at the shops is poor and now charging if you go to hairdressers etc. Sports facilities needed.

Medical centre is a good development.

Supermarket

Secondary school, bypass, more attractive shopping.

More shops, more leisure facilities.

Roads, the amount of traffic coming through this village is too much we don't need anymore. A bypass to save huge lorries speeding through village. More traffic calming measures, clearer markings at traffic lights so people know where to wait before turning right. Parade knocked down and rebuilt, more car parking space.

Needs more shops and amenities.

Bypass, especially at the south end of the village. Much more off road parking throughout housing estates. More parking for village parade area for use when attending clubs & playgroups.

More shops, more parking.

Bypass taking through and heavy commercial traffic away from the centre of the village.

Option of larger variety of shops/supermarket.

More shops, a bigger supermarket.


Better shops in the precinct area, it needs renewing as a matter of urgency.

Doctors, schools, supermarkets and police.

A suitable sized community centre & cafe for current (2010) needs.

School places, doctors, sewers and drains, shops.

A properly run health centre, the current providers are not a patch on Rose Cottage.

Adequate schooling provision. More frequent bus service.

More shops, bypass, larger school.

I would not like to see infrastructure developments.

Larger supermarket i.e. Sainsburys or Tesco, larger primary school facilities.

More shops, policing, water supply, drainage.

Parking, range of shops, size of school, restaurants and coffee shops.

Bus service is appalling, improved parking around village shops, more local business i.e. local jobs.

We have no shops to speak about, we desperately need a supermarket please.

Water supply and disposal, shops, surgeries, hospital facilities, roads, utility services, schools.

Better shops, a secondary school.

A supermarket

More shops, better doctors surgery.

Better shops, increased parking.

Village Hall (a proper one) shops that would allow people to shop in the village and attract people to Staplehurst.

A larger community centre, the parish church is the only place that can hold a lot of people but is non suitable because of parking.

Improved broadband and mobile phone reception. More frequent bus services particularly on Sundays. More traffic calming measures. Medium size supermarket.

Range of shops, better policing of anti social behaviour, better facilities for teenagers, more doctors.

Secondary school, decent shopping, diversity of shops, large supermarket, village centre.

When I moved here 43 years ago it was a lovely village completely self contained; now we have to go elsewhere to shop.

Supermarket.


Would like to see more usable shops, instead of estate agents and takeaways.

More shops, car parking, toilets.

A supermarket definitely. Improved parking, a better choice of shops, a community centre that can be used by anyone, sports/leisure facilities.

More activities for young people, especially teenagers.

Better shopping facilities so that people do not have to go outside the village to shop. Better community facilities like halls and good quality rooms for hire.

Fire station

We need more shops.

I think the village is large enough.

The local shops are inadequate to serve the current population. There are insufficient local restaurants. The main road needs no further traffic.

Improve village amenities the number of older people in the village is increasing compared to younger people. Improve shopping facilities (Spar needs to be improved) If you can't beat the supermarket, then encourage a Sainsburys Local or Tesco Express into the village infrastructure. If we are to have more housing then infrastructure needs to be improved sewage, drainage etc.

Sport/leisure facilities. Supermarket. Redevelop parade shopping facilities. Mini roundabout to slow traffic.

Need a leisure centre or something like shops, these are hideous they need pulling down and rebuilding, very unattractive not enough to support village. School is not big enough, they have already lost playing field to drs surgery.

Lack of shopping facilities.

Nothing keep it as a village.

Better shopping facilities, more individual shops.

Schools especially for secondary school ages, better shopping facilities and road network and buses and leisure facilities.

Sewage capacity, school capacity.

More shops, a proper high street, better parking.

Supermarket, swimming pool, leisure centre.

Better car parking, greater array of shops, better public transport.

Large supermarket (i.e. Tesco) more buses, more shops (i.e. electrical), leisure centre, haberdashery/clothing.

Would need more parking, medical facilities and perhaps even a supermarket.


Unsure

The shopping parade requires major revamp and the chemist can't cope. The trees need cutting and the church is being covered from view.

New supermarket, station car park to be extended, bypass or ring road on A229. improved/re developed village centre.

Bypass.

The parade cannot support the community we have now so to add more housing developments would see the demand for the previous Tesco development that was over ruled before. We are no longer a village!!

Any new development must be conditional on more shops, a larger school and a bypass to ensure heavy vehicles are kept away from the village centre.

Wimpy fields road ends Oliver Road get this land used for the purpose it was bought we've been here 34 years perhaps they could use it for more affordable houses, we have a rat run from the lime trees development in our road why should building behind us make any more traffic than that estate did.

More shops

Parking and shops

Bypass to west of village, partially sponsored by Tesco in return for superstore on said bypass as planned in 1970. It won't get cheaper you know!

Shops and bus services

Sewers, shops with parking, school, modern community centre, improved bus services. Mains drainage through the village would appear to be inadequate for new major developments.

Shops, parking, allotments, green space.

More and better restaurants, independent shops, additional Post Office, adequate open space, maintenance of countryside without development expanding into it. Better public transport.

Depends how many extra planning to be built for Sewerage not good enough and very bad smells.

More shops.

Village centre is inadequate and will be put under more strain if further housing allowed egg post office queues, no coffee shops, limited banking.

Roads, traffic management, off street parking, drainage, telecommunications, public transport.

Better shops / improved facilities.

The need for better shops. Increase of traffic, causing further problems, destroy (eventually) our rural village.


Improved traffic control, bypass, better parking on the Parade.

There would be less appointments at the Doctors, harder for children to get into local school, no decent supermarket.

Shops, sports centre.

Primary school cannot cope with more children, currently at 421 pupils. Shopping facilities inadequate as it is. Railway car park not big enough for current commuters. Doctor’s services, although we have a new surgery, getting an appointment can be quite challenging. Road network inadequate at present. Marden Road traffic lights can take 6 mins to navigate in the mornings.

Decent supermarket, improved drainage/sewage, police & fire station.

Please improve the Parade (if you can!) no to more shops in place of the trees between the build ups and the road. More parking is needed, also down at the station.

A Metro Tesco or equivalent.

Bypass, jobs, better public transport, better shops, better leisure facilities for indoor sport.

To answer Q2 + 3 requires research on future local employment prospects regarding housing demand. Also birth rate re school capacity, and shopping trends re shop provision. Guesswork is not the answer.

Decent supermarket, sports centre with pool, secondary school, improved drainage systems.

Utilities are at their limit, it would require massive investment to prevent existing customers not seeing deterioration.

We need improvement of our bus service i.e. buses every 1/2 hour. The roads into and out of the village are already full of heavy lorries and congested with cars at the peak times of the day. There is not adequate provision of healthcare/doctors to meet demand. Shops are inadequate. Primary school may struggle, not enough youth activities.

Village bypass, better range of shops.

Better sports/community centre. Supermarket.

More shops and transport links, there are already too many homes and not sufficient facilities to service them.

Shops

Better bus service, policing (control of unsociable behaviour)

Medical centre expansion, sports facilities, bowling green, gymnasium, more local shops, road speed limits including 20mph zones.

The current shops are not being used to their full potential as there are some not being rented/used. If they were, the facilities would be providing an infrastructure. Policing, transport, shops.

Shops/health centre/school/roads.


Don't want to see any further development.

More places of education primary. A supermarket.

Grocery shops, more frequent public transport links.

A229 bypass, better parking at shops.

Facilities for the elderly a better supermarket.

Supermarket at Staplehurst, more parking in village centre.

Good quality shops that would benefit the village shops have already been closed or turned into hospices etc.

More frequent train services.

Roads, pavements and crossings, cycle lanes.

I'm not sure building more houses is the answer. Perhaps there would be enough for a housing association to buy and rent/sell on.

Redeveloped shops are with sufficient car parking to support those shops. Water, sewerage, telephone and other services need updating.

Better shops especially supermarket.

Staplehurst is no longer a nice place to live no money spent on village by council to keep it looking nice, too many cars, no local policing, gypsies can break law by putting caravans on farm land, the stink of waste on farmlands is unbearable, lack of any good shops, get rid of betting office.

Essential a bypass and enforced lower speed limit/other traffic calming or preferably chicane type measures.

School can't cope with more people, lack of decent shops, sporting and recreation facilities for younger generation.

Schools, shops, leisure, bus (need more)

Retail supermarket.

Main road already very busy into Maidstone.

Shops, sewage, roads, doctors.

Decent shops to cater for the large commuter estates. Therefore poor infrastructure.

Protection against flooding.

Youth facilities, shops, sports centre.

Supermarket.

More social housing.


Highways bypass, traffic management scheme, cycle routes, central car parking. Bigger school, more parking, better areas for young and older children to play. Extend station car park.

More/better shops & amenities. Could school accommodate greater numbers?

Health care and pharmacy facilities inadequate primary school must be close to full capacity inadequate choice for secondary education

We have a failing doctors surgery that needs to be improved an already full school where maximum amount of children are already in a class.

Very small amount of shops, doctors and the capacity can't cope.

Care for preschoolers (fulltime), schools, trains, elderly care, hospital care, parking, more GPs/specialists/nurses, roads (A229 is already turning into the M25!) No more houses; we can't cope.

Improved drainage, better shopping facilities, more parking.

More parking at the station, less parking on estate roads which are normally highly dangerous, traffic calming on estate roads, improved drains they already block several times a year, Maidstone Council have repeatedly failed to resolve the problem. Level pavements that can be walked on without injury, public transport increased.

No more development, no more new housing. A small supermarket near the station would be good.


7. Appendix S2 Analysis of the 527 Responses to Question 4.

‘If No, What infrastructure would you like to see developed, improved or added to?

The 527 responses in Appendix S1 were analysed, for areas of commonality and frequency of comment and categorised as below.

The categories were then subsequently listed in alphabetical order.

There are 67 generic comments relating to infrastructure and housing development which could not be specifically categorised.

All comments are listed in Appendix S1.

The frequency figures ‘at a glance’ are shown below

Banking Frequency Another Cash Till 1

Total 1

Children and Youth (1117) Frequency Children – more activities, facilities, clubs 9 Children childcare, nursery, pre school 3 Youth – more activities and facilities; 24

Total 36

Community Centre Village Centre/Hall Frequency Community Centre – Village Centre/Hall 35 Suitable for wider use – drama/entertainment/youth 7 With Cafe 1

Total 43

Communications Frequency Telecommunication 4 Improved broadband facility 3 Fibre optic broadband 1 Mobile phone reception 1

Total 9

Education Frequency Schools/Schooling generic 27 Primary School – not large enough/need for expansion

55

Secondary School 17 Secondary School – better provision 8 Secondary School in Staplehurst 2 Technical School 1 Adult Education Facilities 1

Total 111


Emergency Services Frequency Police 27 Fire Station 4 Ambulance 2

Total 33

Employment Frequency More Businesses 3 More Jobs 8

Total 11

Healthcare Frequency Chemist/Pharmacy – inadequate provision 15 Dentists 6 Doctors 11 Doctors more of 11 Doctors dedicated not locums 4 Doctors more surgeries 4 Elderly Care 1 Nurses/specialists more of 1 Health Centre larger and better staffed 16 Health Centre additional centre 1 Health Care better and greater provision 16 Hospice 1 Hospital Care/Facilities 1

Total 88

Restaurants and Cafes Frequency Restaurants 10 Cafes 8 Coffee Shop 4 Meeting Place 1

Total 23

Retail Frequency Shops more shops, better shops, improve parade 189 Shops Supermarket 136

Total 325

Sports and Leisure Facilities Frequency Leisure Centre/Sports Complex/facilities 62 Swimming Pool 10 Gym 8 Bowling Green 1 Guest House 1 Spa 1 Squash 1 Working Men’s Club 1

Total 85


Transport Frequency Bus Services 48 Congestion 14 Cycle lanes/routes 4 Footpaths/Pavements 7 Parking 58 Parking Free Parking 4 Parking Off Road 8 Parking Railway Station 18 Parking – Village Centre 27 Pedestrian Crossings 3 Public Transport 30 Roads 20 Roads Bypass 45 Roads Relief Road 4 Roads Repairs 6 Traffic Management 16 Traffic Control Speeding 11 Trains 6 Trains – Railway Station Access 4 Trains – Improved Services 9

Total 341

Toilets Frequency Toilets 6

Total 6

Open Spaces (Parks) Frequency Public Open Space 6

Total 6

Utilities Frequency Electricity 3 Gas 2

Total 5

Water, Sewerage and Drainage Frequency Sewerage 30 Drainage 36 Water Supply 17 Flooding 2

Total 85


Analysis of the 527 Responses to Question 4.

‘At a Glance’

Infrastructure Frequency Banking 1 Children and Youth (1117) 36 Community Centre Village Centre/Hall 43 Communications 9 Education 111 Emergency Services 33 Employment 11 Healthcare 88 Restaurants and Cafes 23 Retail shops 325 Sports and Leisure Facilities 85 Transport 341 Toilets 6 Open Spaces (Parks) 6 Utilities 5 Water, Sewerage and Drainage 85


8. APPENDIX S3 Question 15. Is there anything else you would like to add in relation to housing

development or affordable housing?

I have lived in Staplehurst all my life. I am 30 years old, married with 3 children and own home. This was made possible because my first home was shared ownership in Greenhill we need more of these to allow young people to stay here if they wish. We do not need more large executive homes.

The village at present is a comfortable equilibrium. Further housing would place this balance unnecessarily and stretch the local resources. If further growth happens at what point do we stop being a village? Unwanted developments (i.e. Tesco) could well look at entering the area and this would be hugely detrimental to our lovely local community the high street would be doomed.

We need more affordable housing for young families and not these 4 + 5 bed luxury houses for people commuting to London.

The absolute minimum consistent with absolute local need, mainly affordable, but mixed tenure.

We currently need to move as we are running out of space but realistically due to stamp duty at 3% on houses of £250,000 and above it might be impossible to move. So if we cannot move this will mean first time buyers do not have an opportunity to buy a 'starter house' market is stagnant like ours.

The whole of the South East has seen house price rises which are unsupportable for less well paid members of the community. The only type of new housing I would support is affordable housing for local people.

Good to have properties with their own outdoor space, within walking distance of basic shops and public transport links. Also within easy reach of parks and country walks etc.

We don't need it at present in Staplehurst as we do not have the infrastructure. Affordable housing will not bring to Staplehurst the right class of people needed for the local economy. There are more appropriate areas. Staplehurst is already on the verge of losing any village status.

Not to spoil our green areas, so much infilling already.

Staplehurst is in my opinion at saturation point as regards to housing estates. However there is a need for private sheltered accommodation and affordable housing for young 1st time buyers.

I would like to build a house on land I have owned for 17 years but has been rejected. I find it frustrating when gypsies seem to just move in anywhere. I have, as has my husband, lived in the village for 35 years that wasn't taken into consideration.

Any affordable housing should include small bungalows for older people.

In Staplehurst there is no more room, more building would encourage us to move elsewhere.

Some green belt land should be given up for housing.

There should also be adequate infrastructure built to enable housing to be developed i.e. bypass. Build that and then infill with housing.


Staplehurst has had a big growth in population in last 10 years without any growth in infrastructure that allows it to be a town in its own right that people can enjoy without needing to travel outside by car for almost everything.

Trend over recent years for significant increase in rented accommodation which appears to have resulted in the deterioration of properties and gardens. Lack of responsible ownership.

Pagehurst Farm Yard may be usable as a site for affordable local needs housing as live/work units.

More houses in Staplehurst means more shops including a supermarket a must.

Village needs affordable starter homes and larger properties not high density housing estates. Infrastructure must include a supermarket with additional small shops.

More bungalows for aging population. Enlarging the village would increase the traffic on the A229.

If there was to be new housing, private housing suitable for older residents.

We need for elderly wardenised places to buy or rent if you are an owner occupier. Many cheat system to get parents from elsewhere into McCabe Close. 1st time buyers property which cannot be extended to large houses.

There are always houses for sale in all price ranges. Any more development would alter beyond repair the balance of old and new properties and therefore the type of varied population we as a village are lucky to enjoy.

Infrastructure needs serious attention before new housing considered.

Staplehurst is over developed and does not need any further houses it is no longer a village!

There is a real need for affordable housing, here as everywhere else. The real core problem is too many people in this overcrowded island.

Good shared ownership for new buyers, with reasonable rent.

The lovely fields surrounding the village that have thus far not been built on make Staplehurst the pretty village that it is.

I have lived in Staplehurst for 30 years and seen it grow over the years. Any more development and we will be a town. As it is we can still say that we do live in a village.

Please do not spoil the village. Life is very precious in the village.

Generally in the Weald there seems to be a deficit of 3 bed plus family homes for people in housing association accommodation.

If affordable housing means council housing or housing association, I am very concerned, because of the problems we experienced a few years ago when there was an influx of former Maidstone residents to the Ponytell Estate. I am worried about the lowering of social standards. If affordable housing means basic build that young people, possibly on lower incomes, can afford, possibly on a part buy part rent basis then I would think this is the right direction.

All new housing should have ample parking spaces. All roads are clogged up with parked cars e.g. Bathurst Road.


We would love to move, we pay £800+ a month rent, we can't afford to buy as are unable to get a deposit. Housing Association renting or shared ownership would be fantastic.

It should be well designed by a proper architect rather than cheap developer housing with no sense of place.

No point doing these surveys as MBC don't listen to Parishes. MBC have predetermined outcome if MBC was interested in affordable housing it would make different planning decisions.

No more shared ownership housing association because they do not help you with problems with neighbours.

Better school and village amenities.

We feel that there has been enough housing development. We moved here many years ago when Staplehurst was a village (with many more specialised shops e.g. book shop, several food stores, electrical etc) It has now grown so large that it is almost a town with less amenities which we feel is very sad, and have to go elsewhere to buy goods.

Lack of parking space, road traffic, speed limit should be 30mph.

What we need is a well designed group of cottages for the elderly retired to buy. The Fir Close site would have been ideal easy walking to PO and shops and library. There is suitable land available behind Rathbond House and Bank House if the planners took a sensible view. Currently it is going to waste, definitely no rented property, ownership is the only way to maintaining reasonable standards.

The rural areas must be protected; agricultural land must not be converted to residential otherwise the locals will be ruined. I would only support redevelopment of the Parade and development of Lodge Road near the station. Staplehurst suffered enough housing expansion in the 60s and 70s.

If building housing for younger people then more employment in the area is needed.

Houses today (unfortunately) require 2 parking spaces

We have recently moved to Staplehurst from London and enjoy the fact that it is semi rural. It does seem a shame to build more houses in the area as this could cause over crowding with lack of facilities and this can only lead to problems

Would like sheltered housing

More bungalows on the flat, but no land in the centre of the village. We cannot support further housing because all we have is the train and our hourly busservice north/south. Our shops are dwindling. I have to walk everywhere as I don’t drive.

Any new development needs more than adequate private parking included so no vehicles have to park on road/highway

Need for starter homes. Development with other imaginations, i.e. not all the same design. Pedestrian friendly. Development of infrastructure to support level of having development

We would support the development of affordable housing only. We have teenage boys who we would like to see remain in the village when they feel the need to leave home


The young do not stand a chance to buy their own homes (full stop). Don’t earn enough to get a mortgage, house prices are over priced. Land purchased by councils (timber builds) wooden built one storey homes which cost from £60K would be ideal for young and old to be able to buy. Even to rent is impossible for them, hence why mine came back home to live.

No additional housing must be built without investment in shops and community facilities. This mistake was made in the expansion of the 1970's. The quality of buildings in the shopping parade is of extremely poor quality.

Availability.

I would not want to see housing on any greenfield sites.

Put a stop to 'garden' housing developments. Stop outward spread to green belt areas. Ensure any new builds have off street parking for at least 2 cars. The new builds to providing allotment areas and open spaces for children play areas.

No more development and no more decanted families from Maidstone.

There is clearly a need for more housing but there is also a real imperative to preserve what is left of the rural ambience of The Weald. New developments are too often intrusive, ugly and unimaginative. Let's have good, ambitious architecture for once, not cheap buildings that look tired the minute they are built.

As more houses are being built, flooding becomes a problem.

My concern is that there are no reasons for the younger members of the community to stay in Staplehurst. Therefore as the young people leave and the remaining community ages, we will end up with a disproportionate number of elderly residents and people on benefits.

Currently, the village is extremely busy traffic wise. More houses = more traffic and more demands on current infrastructure. In addition policing must be considered.

Any more houses will cause traffic problems and a bypass would be required.

We feel that affordable housing is required for young people in Staplehurst. We do not have enough facilities to support the growing need. We need a bigger school, more shops, more parking before the housing goes up. One small grocery store is not enough for Staplehurst. It also needs to be smartened up!

Affordable housing is a must as long as the tenants/owners are not intent on disrupting existing locals by noise, nuisance, and unacceptable behaviour – i.e. problem people moved on from other areas for bad behaviour.

Affordable housing should be better defined as 'housing for those on low income'

The village shopping centre needs to redevelop and cater for local residents, in safety/free from the volume of through traffic.

Available to all age groups, not just the young.

Please don't expand Staplehurst's housing without giving anything back, such as developing parks, facilities for use by all members of the community socially. We are in danger of becoming a dead commuter town and this is because of the lack of a decent 'hub of activity'


There is not the road infrastructure to support any more traffic coming through the village. Don't build anymore, we are big enough! If the traffic gets worse, I will move away completely don't make me do that please.

Adequate parking provision for homes with 2 cars. Either sensible street parking (so does not impact traffic) or specific parking bays for houses.

Concentrate on providing homes for children that have grown up in Staplehurst looking to have their first home with partner.

Building new houses is not the answer as only a small percentage of houses are shared ownership. Even shared ownership is not affordable to many, especially if your wage is the only income. By building will give profit just to the builders. Local people will not be able to buy, and it will just increase the commuters in the already extended village. For instance, the new builds on gasworks, value when built for a 3 bed was £280,000 this is not affordable housing.

I may reconsider to support this scheme if the types of properties built were of within keeping of traditional properties in and around Staplehurst. Not the ugly 3 storey town houses considered at the typical builders idea that everyone needs or wants a 5 bedroom house. Very few properties are built that are 2 bed detached.

Warden managed homes for retired older residents to rent or buy.

Currently there are far too many residences (flats/houses etc) being built without adequate planning of infrastructure development. Staplehurst requires more social/affordable housing but not without first developing an adequate and socially integrated infrastructure.

Main need is for flats to buy for young nest leavers.

I live in a 1 bed house in Staplehurst and have got to move out of the village to set up home with my partner in a bigger house to start a family because Staplehurst is too expensive.

I would rather not have any. But as there will be to only be built where there is room and will not upset others lives i.e. lack of parking, extra traffic in small roads.

Staplehurst is already a very large housing estate rather than a small country village. More housing development would just turn it into a mini Maidstone but without any decent shops and facilities.

Sadly affordable housing tends to bring in the sort of people that this village could do without. If it has to happen there should be an increase in policing in the village rather than the reduction that is far more likely.

I do not believe that Staplehurst can sustain the Maidstone Borough Council plans for housing development given the infrastructure of the village and there will be considerable impact on all residents. In addition, I do not support this scale of development that is such that if cannot be drive by local demand.

It is important that any growth does not destroy the community. Any provision of housing should be tied to those living or working in the village or with family ties.

Shared ownership and social rented do need consideration.

I want to see affordable (but not publically subsided) property but I also want to see large high quality houses built so that this village expands in both directions.


Use land to build flats/smaller houses from people who have got large gardens. How come in the Staplehurst area there are travellers around and have been there for several years they have not been moved on.

Staplehurst cannot support an increased population without many other changes

There is a desperate need for affordable starter housing in this area.

In the end, our opinion accounts for nothing. The combined forces of government, national and local, planning regulations and easy capitalisation to people who are regarded as special will continue to ruin the area and county as a whole.

I feel we should have more council properties to rent for younger people who cannot afford the ridiculously high prices of private properties.

It is a real worry not knowing where/how we are going to live in a few years time.

Control infilling which will destroy character of village

It is of great concern to us that there is no affordable (really affordable) housing in Staplehurst, for younger people. Our own daughter had to leave the area as she could afford nothing in Staplehurst and this has caused difficulties. Another daughter has been saving for years to no avail!

Every housing plan should take more notice of the impact it will have on the neighbours. Too often properties are bought, extended upwards and outwards and then sold on, leaving neighbours blighted with walls and windows replacing fresh air and trees. People need space and fresh air, not noise and pollution leading to antisocial behaviour for overcrowding. We are a rural community, not an urban ghetto.

In relation to q4, a supermarket must not draw business from local shops as they are vital. Public tennis courts would be a bonus.

The proposed redevelopment of Hen & Duckhurst from (Marden Road) should not go ahead. The traffic on the Marden Road has steadily increased over the last few years and to build another industrial estate on that extremely noisy. I understand jobs will be created but at what cost!

Do not build concrete jungles, rural builds would be good

Close family members who have lived in Staplehurst all their lives would like to buy property in the village are unable to, because property is just unaffordable and out of their means.

Staplehurst lacks a broad enough spectrum of housing and as a result, there is poor housing mobility. Middle income families are well catered for but have little to aspire to since, of the small number of higher quality properties, many are blocked by older residents withinturn nowhere more suitable to go. At the same time, there are few entry level properties for the young and they are forced to leave the town. We need more housing at the extremes of the spectrum. If there is to be more housing, there must be matching investment in communal, leisure and commercial facilities it is only under those circumstances that we would support housing development.

There should be more council houses for rents young people can afford.

If there is to be an increase in housing development, there has to be an improvement in the infrastructure to deal with increase in pupils at the school/better community / recreational hall facilities through road improvements (some sort of by pass)


Staplehurst is getting too big

The village already has extensive modern development and to increase this further would put significant pressure on services and potentially alter the character of the village. The main road is already very busy and dangerous this needs reviewing

There should be no more development in Staplehurst. People move here because of its village/small town atmosphere. By expanding and developing will just change Staplehurst into a town. It we wanted to live in a town we would have moved to one. We want to live in a village which is why we moved here in the first place. Please don’t build any further housing developments particularly affordable housing.

There should be no further development in Staplehurst unless community buildings upgraded and improved and local infrastructure much improved for the population. Transport links improved. Social and leisure facilities improved.

I think the village is already too big. Additional housing would have to be on existing residential sites and not the beautiful green fields around us. My reason for staying in Staplehurst is its rural village feels if it were to get any bigger, I would probably move away.

My comments are made as a professional person who is involved on a day to day basis in matters relating to town planning. I do not agree with suggestions that Staplehurst is a village that should be considered for expansion of any level of development into the surrounding fields. There should only be very limited unfit and use of brownfield sites a good example is the redevelopment of the redundant gasometer site in Marden Road.

Any development should be careful to maintain character of village and area.

Housing needs to be mixed i.e. 14 bedrooms affordable housing should not be flats and have gardens

I don’t want more affordable housing in Staplehurst because unfortunately it attracts people in society who don’t respect neighbours and other people’s property and cause general nuisance and damage to those around them. There have been many examples of people being moved to Staplehurst because they have caused trouble elsewhere and they end up making people’s lives hell when they are moved here.

Until the schools in the area can accommodate more children, then I don’t think building more houses is feasible. The primary school is already large and only 1 secondary school accepts all pupils without having to appeal.

My son moved to Coxheath, Maidstone as he couldn’t afford Staplehurst. He is trying to move up the ladder to buy in Staplehurst.

We have only moved to Staplehurst in August and we like it the way it is.

Staplehurst does not have the infrastructure to support additional developments.

Poor Staplehurst lots of recent(ish) development and no infrastructure. Village going rapidly downhill through lack of investment in infrastructure. Compare with Cranbrook for example or even Headcorn.

Affordable housing should be spaced to allow for green space and should not be placed separately but mixed with other varied sizes/types of housing to avoid creating a type of ghetto. Staplehurst


has already been developed and is quite a large village, any further development should seriously consider the countryside and environment.

Transport!!

It must not look shoddy or as it is it cheap good design, good sized gardens, parking for 2 cars We do not want more housing in Staplehurst. It would spoil it. It is a village not al estate. Leave it as it is.

If more houses were built then I would be looking to move out of the area

There is a very good mix of housing available in Staplehurst. Where would additional houses be built where are the brown field sites. I did not move to Staplehurst to watch field being built on.

The village has limited facilities and infrastructure. A limited number of affordable housing should be restricted to people who have grown up in the village not for outsiders.

Quality of design has been lacking in past. Important to keep quality high and enhance area. Need not cost much extra.

A house has been built next to me he is a farmer so it is ok but I am a gypsy traveller and I am in a touring caravan and you want me to move. I am meant to be harming the countryside but we did not harm the countryside when we worked on farms like slaves and now you want to build houses.

Similar planning to Kings Hill development with a variety of house designs, sizes and village type amenities and small open spaces.

The village needs to retain its village character; no it would not be desirable to build too much in the countryside area. There is a need for more housing for older residents in the centre of the village. There should be a provision of rates for mobile homes in the rural areas where conventional houses would be permitted. We need less larger houses and more smaller ones that are affordable for first time buyers and those at the lower end of the housing ladder to move up to allowing owners of affordable homes to extend their properties with additional rooms is self defeating so it takes the affordable homes out of the market.

Stop blanket ban on building outside the village envelope i.e. expand out rather than intense building within village

Affordable housing for who? More people outside Staplehurst who don’t care about the village or our own kids who can’t find work and can’t get a mortgage. It’s difficult enough to find any fields locally that you can walk in, we don’t want more houses we need to improve on what we already have.

Any new housing developments should contain communal green areas and adequate parking spaces.

Build more social housing or make rents or mortgages more available.

Personally I don’t think any additional housing should be built unless the infrastructure to support it is in place first. Adequate GP facilities, adequate shops, parking and school places plus speed enforcement through the village to calm traffic

More facilities, Cranbrook is another place to go by. Also Headcorn


First option should always be to use derelict properties for redevelopment. Only once these have been exhausted should carefully selected sites on the outskirts of the village be used.

There is no way that the facilities in Staplehurst would support anymore housing. Development should be very selective and be part of overall strategic development plan for village. Additional housing without suitable infrastructure.

If more housing is planned please allow enough car parking facilities. The market street parking allocation for the new development is criminal.

Staplehurst cannot currently support any more housing

Good design.

Just don’t do it until the infrastructure can cope. Development means improvement without the infrastructure it is just building.

Housing for an ageing population that meets the need of people as they grow older

There is no varied village centre here as there is for example in Headcorn. There is nothing here to sustain more housing and would simply provide more homes for commuters

This questionnaire seems irrelevant and a waste of money

Too much private development. Where is the bypass promised in exchange for building on Marden Road. Too much through traffic HGVs particularly cut through from Maidstone to Hastings and south cost now.

Need for flats for single people opportunity to develop land between industrial estate and railway

Staplehurst has enough housing! The infrastructure needs to be improved, the drainage in particular and more parking facilities dotted around the village to endeavour to keep road parking to a limited amount.

Allotments might be required for families in flats/houses with small gardens

Council to be more active in keeping pathways clean and in good condition. More to be done to prosecute dog owners who allow their dogs to fowl the pavement and surrounding playing fields.

We would support plans for housing development in the village. If the developers are sympathetic to local views and opinions and build in traditional styles in keeping with the village. Also do not cram too many houses onto one site, with tiny gardens. Better to have less houses, but with more space inside and out.

I think there should be more starter homes to enable the youngsters to remain in the village.

Just to ensure any development should be very small and limited to special needs as noted in Q2.

I think too much development would ruin the village feel of Staplehurst, which at present still feels rural unfortunately the appearance of the shop area already does a discredit to the village I think any development should be handled very carefully. Maybe small, very selective housing with traditional feel/style in areas already developed rather than green areas or stretching to the village edges. Also consideration must be made for traveller sites etc there seems to be caravans in areas they shouldn't be and the council have little power to move them.


I support more housing if the infrastructure improves to cater for the extra people moving to Staplehurst.

We would support further housing with the right infrastructure.

Staplehurst is built up enough without more houses being built; it will no longer be a village but a town.

Staplehurst cannot cope with further housing until a complete revamp of infrastructure and shops is in place. We are a backwater no one wants to visit and is just a commuter village. The nearest decent supermarket is over 5 miles away.

No social housing within a 5 mile radius or housing association (problem families) they should stay in Tovil.

All housing needs to be carefully managed as much of 'affordable housing' developments tend to attract housing associations, who do not always have the particular villages best needs in the forefront.

Cheaper properties to rent or shared ownership properties with option to buy in full in stages (this would be for my son)

Staplehurst to retain its village status.

Only small development & affordable.

I strongly feel that the development of houses should be in an organised and structured way having consideration to infrastructure. The practice of building new houses in the gardens of existing houses is unacceptable and causes too much traffic and parking congestion.

There is no heart to the village, so until something is done to upgrade the village centre then no more houses should be built. There is not really anything for any age group in this village.

When new houses are built parking must be planned for, all houses on my estate have garages but very few are used and some houses have 2 or 3 cars therefore at night ambulances and fire engines would have difficulty in reaching their destination.

Affordable housing is fine if it is given to people from the parish who really need it. Not people from outside who cause a nuisance or who at a later stage purchase it, then sell it on for a huge profit.

I think there is a good range of housing in the village.

4 bedroom homes at an affordable price do not come on the market that often in Staplehurst. There seems to be a big jump in prices. So I would definitely support more large 3, small 4 bedroom house developments. I do not think Staplehurst needs more 2 bedroom houses, so would not support that.

Staplehurst is in a lovely setting but likes a good village atmosphere. Shopping and cafes etc like Headcorn for example. People do not, I suspect, visit our village just for a visit a cup of tea and cake etc. We could do with better transport facilities (buses) for those who do not possess cars or can no longer drive. We need better leisure facilities.

The infrastructure would not support any housing at the moment.


No further mass development. No further affordable housing mixed in with private housing as it is unfair on those who have struggled to buy their own property and not live off the state/taxpayers. No further settlements for gypsies.

I think there are ample houses of various sizes and shapes and prices already on the market in this village. I would not like to see more countryside destroyed in building more estates. I am also vehemently against new builds in garden/plots.

Bungalows would need to be on the flat as older people do not wish to walk up steep hills. Affordable housing for children that have families in Staplehurst and were brought up here.

I wish they offer us a new home now from housing association so that we will be free from being tied with our employer.

I do not in general terms support any further housing development in Staplehurst because there has been far too much in recent years and the area is becoming very congested. However, I recognise the need for some provision of affordable housing.

There is a need for affordable housing for young people starting out. They cannot afford to stay locally to work locally.

Affordable housing is not necessary, all you need is five years hard work and a sensible savings plan and you would be able to purchase a property for cash as I have done myself.

I would not like Staplehurst to grow any bigger but that is a pipe dream! If it has to, the centre of village needs rebuilding and multi story car park, as it does not fit our needs now. A large supermarket on outskirts would just kill the place. It doesn't have much character as it is, but empty shops would not help. Look at how Headcorn has improved.

All new builds to be sympathetic to styles already used see village statement. All housing to be well mixed no enclaves no gated areas.

Do not agree with using farmland for new housing We have not got enough green belt land as it is.

Traffic in Staplehurst is already too high, with households averaging two cars each a further large development could put an extra 400 cars on our roads disastrous.

Housing development should be kept to the urban areas of Maidstone. Villages and countryside such as High Weald should be protected and housing should not expand beyond current village urban area.

Further growth in Staplehurst and outlying villages will put pressure on schools both primary and secondary. If housing allowed on green belt sites, must allow growth of business (local) in area (perhaps also on greenbelt) to support growth in population.

If there is going to be any new development, I would like the council to hold the developers to the terms of their building contract. An example: The Lime Trees estate, a large development built in 1999 was not adopted by the Council for some 10 years due to builders not carrying out their obligations. I would like to see builders/developers contributing more to the community school development, roads etc.

Staplehurst is at maximum capacity for housing given the current amenities/facilities.


Gypsies are buying up a lot of land and then staying with caravans in the local area, but don't seem to want to comply with parking laws within Staplehurst. When will double yellow line parking enforcement start and then be maintained for all?

A clear way to be included on list.

Services and businesses would benefit from some modest growth if there is funding for better infrastructure. Village needs a mix of housing types and rented housing could be needed.

What my wife and I are opposed to is speculative house building not known on local requirements i.e. development that attracts commuters. Particularly London. Any housing development to be confined where possible to meet the needs of people already established here or moving here to take up local employment.

Staplehurst cannot accommodate any further housing developments. Apart from the roads being at full capacity, there aren’t adequate shopping facilities, health centre facilities and public transport. More houses is a very bad idea.

No random mobile homes in fields equality not preference. Housing for older people needed say at end of Chapel Lane flat.

No development of green belt land for housing.

There seems to be plenty of housing but not everyone can afford large houses.

Larger 3 bed homes needed.

Local people should have preference to housing not just the first time the property is sold or rented but for future uses.

There seem to be enough 3 bed houses but nothing I could afford. The need is for houses (either existing or newly built) that can be part bought/part rented.

I note a growing trend to rented housing so any new housing should be for sale with some affordable units and shared ownership.

Sensitive development outside the village would be good. Must look good/not intrude. Must be a lot of demand.

You must make all people who live in Staplehurst better place to live, my view it has become a scruffy dirty large village with no long term plan.

All housing development and affordable housing should be private sector funded and managed. The parish council should not become embroiled in the matter. Please publish the cost of this survey and what was given up to finance it when the results are given. A value for money assessment would also be interesting.

Do not need more housing, speed limits reduced if more people, increased traffic.

Against any infilling.

There is a very large need for good quality flats/bungalows for retired professional people, who are looking to downsize but have no desire to leave the village. At present there is absolutely nothing. Everything is geared to young people or social housing.


Would be happy to support small scale affordable housing especially for those already connected to the village. However continued expansion of the village will eventually mean there will be no countryside left and Staplehurst will cease to be a village.

More housing not only adds to schools and problems with Health Centre not being able to provide adequate and prompt appointments, but cars are already being parked on our greenery illegally around the village and our village cannot cope with more cars.

The village infrastructure is already poorly coping with the current number of inhabitants the environment is getting polluted and dirtier. No more housing please.

Staplehurst cannot cope with more housing.

With regard to Staplehurst, there is enough housing. Further development should not be permitted.

More housing would lead to more congestion, and detrimental effect on environment, too much countryside in South East England is built on.

Staplehurst will continue to thrive by being open and inclusive but must have infrastructural development to support this.


SECTION 2 – STAPLEHURST HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY

9. INTRODUCTION TO SECTION 2

Respondents were asked to complete Section 2 of the survey if they were in need of affordable housing (rented or shared ownership through a Housing Association). 95 respondents (13% of all respondents) completed this section.

The aim of this section of the survey is to identify in general terms if there is a housing need from local people. It is not to provide a list of names and addresses of individuals requiring a home. If a need is identified and a project is established to develop a local needs housing scheme, then once a suitable site has been identified, a more detailed second stage survey will ask local people to register their interest for one of the properties. This survey will include names, addresses and full personal details including income

10. BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO LOCAL NEEDS HOUSING SCHEMES

In a report published in October 2010, the National Housing Federation’s Rural Housing Alliance has stated that ‘The average rural house price in England is now more than twelve times the average salary of people living in rural areas. In order to obtain a mortgage, a person living and working in the countryside would need to earn £66,000 per year’. 1 They state that the average rural salary is approximately £20,000.

Small developments of local needs housing schemes can provide affordable housing for local people, thereby enabling them to stay in their community and contribute to village life. This can have a real difference to the vitality of village services.

In 2007 Matthew Taylor, then MP for Truro and St Austell, was asked by the then Prime Minister to conduct a review on how land use and planning can better support rural business and deliver affordable housing. Many rural communities are faced by a combination of higher than average house prices and lower than average local wages. This can create challenges for individual families, the local economy and the wider sustainability of the community.

On July 23 rd 2008 Matthew Taylor presented his Review to the Government. Caroline Flint, Housing Minister at the time, indicated that the Government agreed with the core principles of the report and would take further measures to boost rural enterprise and affordable housing.

Caroline Flint said: “Matthew Taylor has provided a comprehensive and authoritative report into the issues that our rural communities face, as well as a number of practical recommendations. He has been talking to people right across the country and his report will have a lasting impact on policy that will help their communities prosper. I thank him for that hard work.”

"It's simply not fair that people in rural communities struggle to afford a place of their own. I am determined that we do everything we can to further help people in rural communities into home ownership, by for example helping landowners to establish community land trusts and by ensuring councils deliver the sustainable homes their communities need."

Rural Affairs Minister Jonathan Shaw said: “Everyone should have the chance of a decent home at a price they can afford in a place they want to live and work in, and that goes for rural people too.”

1 Affordable Rural Housing: A practical guide for parish councils. October 2010. National Housing Federation


The Government issued their response to the review in March 2009 where they accepted the majority of Matthew Taylor’s recommendations. (Department of Communities and Local Government 2009).

The Rural Housing Enabler Programme, which is delivered in Kent through Action with Communities in Rural Kent – the Rural Community Council for Kent and Medway, is supported by Local Authorities across Kent and Medway including Maidstone Borough Council.

Action with Communities in Rural Kent is a registered charity (No. 212796) whose purpose is to improve the quality of life of local communities, particularly for disadvantaged people, and to facilitate the development of thriving, diverse and sustainable communities throughout rural Kent. Since March 1998 Action with Communities in Rural Kent has employed a Rural Housing Enabler whose role is to provide independent support, advice and information to Parish Councils and community groups concerned with the lack of local needs housing in their rural communities.

The RHE will assist with carrying out a housing needs survey, analyse the results and help identify suitable sites in conjunction with the local authority and others, for a local needs housing scheme. Once a partnership has been established between the Parish Council, the chosen housing association and the local authority to develop a scheme, the independent role of the RHE helps to ensure the project proceeds smoothly and to the benefit of the community.

11. RESULTS OF SECTION 2 – HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY

Those households or family members of the household, looking for housing either now or in the next 3 years, completed section 2 of the survey.

In total 95 households answered questions in section 2 (13% of all returned surveys). In some instances not all the questions were completed by each respondent therefore results are for the actual response to each question.

Question 16. Do you or a member of your household need affordable housing either now or in the next 3 years?

Now Next 3 years

Frequency

55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

38 Now 57 Next 3 years

Question 17. How many people in each age group are in housing need?

0 9 1015 1619 2024 2544 4559 6074 75+ Male 12 9 9 16 44 6 7 0 Female 10 6 1 14 33 14 7 2 Total 22 15 10 30 77 20 14 2

The above table represents a total of 190 people.


Question 18. What type of household will you be in alternative accommodation?

Single person Couple Family

Frequency

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

31 Single person 33 Couple 28 Family

Question 19. Do you currently live in Staplehurst?

Yes No

Frequency

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

92 Yes 3 No

Question 20. What is your connection with Staplehurst parish? (Please tick all options that apply)

Connection Number of responses Percentage I currently live in the parish and have done so continuously for at least the last 5 years

87 92

I have been forced to move away from the parish due to the lack of suitable accommodation

5 5

In the past I have lived in the parish continuously for 5 years or more

12 13

I have immediate family which has lived continuously in the parish for at least 5 years

40 42

I am in permanent full time employment in the parish and have been so for a period of at least 1 year

18 19

I am about to take up permanent full time employment in the parish

1 1


Question 21. What is your current housing situation?

Frequency 30 20 10 0

Owner occupier With parents

Private Renting Renting from Housing Association

Tied Accommodation Other

Renting from Council

34 Owner occupier 33 With parents 20 Private Renting 3 Renting from Housing Association 2 Tied Accommodation 1 Other 0 Renting from Council

Question 22. How many bedrooms do you currently have?

1 bed 2 beds 3 beds 4 beds 5+ beds

Frequency

40 35 30 25 20

15 10 5 0

10 1 bed 16 2 beds 44 3 beds 13 4 beds 7 5+ beds

Question 23. Which type of housing do you need?

Type of housing Number of responses

Percentage

Flat 24 21 House 63 56 Bungalow 18 16 Accommodation suitable for older persons without support

7 6

Sheltered housing 1 1 Extra Care housing 0 0


Question 24. Which tenure would best suit your housing need?

Frequency 40 20 0

Renting Housing Association

Shared ownership Housing Association

27 Renting Housing Association 48 Shared ownership Housing Association

Question 25. How many bedrooms will you need?

1 2 3 4 5+

Frequency

45 40 35 30

25

20 15 10

5 0

12 1 48 2 23 3 2 4 0 5+

Question 26. What would your household’s income be in alternative accommodation?

Frequency 10 5 0

Less than £48 per week/£208 per month £49£95 pw week/£209£411 per month £96£145 per week/£412£628 per month £146£210 per week/£629£910 per month

£211 £249 per week/£911£1079 per month £250£300 per week/£1080£1300 per month £301£350 per week/£1301£1516 per month £351£400 per week/£1517 £1733 per month £410££500 per week/£1734£2166 per month £510£600 per week/£2167£2600 per month

£601+ per week/£2601+ per month


Question 27. Why are you seeking a new home? (Please tick one box only)

Reason seeking new home Number of responses Percentage Present home in need of major repair 3 4 Present home too expensive 3 9 Current home affecting health 2 2 Setting up home with partner 15 18 Sheltered accom due to age/infirmity 1 1 Cannot afford mortgage 7 8 Need smaller home 3 4 Private tenancy ending 5 6 First independent home 23 27 To be nearer family 1 1 To be nearer work 0 0 Divorce/separation 1 1 Disability/disabled 1 1 Need larger home 9 11 Lodging 1 1 Retirement 5 6 New job 0 0

Question 28. Please tell us in your own words why you need to move and what prevents you doing so.

There were 59 responses to this question. A full list of comments can be found in Appendix S4.

Question 29. Are you registered on Maidstone Borough Council’s Housing Register?

Yes No

Frequency

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

22 Yes 68 No


12. LOCAL HOUSING COSTS

To fully assess local housing need it is important to look at open market prices in the private sector of houses both to rent and buy.

Property for sale

Searches of www.rightmove.co.uk which markets property for a number of leading local estate agents, in November 2010, showed the following cheapest properties for sale in Staplehurst –

Type of Property Number of Bedrooms Price £

Terraced house 1 115 000 Apartment 2 129 000 Semi detached house 2 144 995 End of terrace house 3 157 500 End of terrace house 3 170 000 Semi detached house 4 215 000

Property to rent

A similar search for rental property found only the following properties available. No one bedroom properties were found

Type of Property Number of Bedrooms Price £pcm. End of terrace house 2 £750 Semi detached house 3 £895 Detached house 3 £1500

Household income required to afford current market prices

Using local information, the table below shows gross and net income level needed to purchase a property in the area (net income is calculated at 70% of gross income). The figures are calculated assuming a 15% deposit and using 3.5 x gross income. Monthly repayment is based on a 2 year fixed rate with HSBC at 4.99% (December 2010) 25 year mortgage term and is calculated using HSBC’s mortgage calculator.

It should be noted that in the current economic climate lenders have made the borrowing criteria for potential mortgagees far stricter by requiring at least a 15% deposit, making securing a mortgage difficult for some first time buyers, especially those on lower incomes.

Type of Property Price £ Deposit (15%)

Gross Income Level

Approx Net income

Monthly Repayment

Terraced house 115 000 17 250 29 571 20 700 571 Apartment 129 000 19 350 33 171 23 220 640 Semi detached house

144 995 21 750 37 284 26 099 720

End of terrace house 157 500 23 625 40 500 28 350 782 End of terrace house 170 000 25 500 43 714 30 600 844 Semi detached house

215 000 32 250 55 286 38 700 1067


To gauge the income level required to afford to rent privately, government guidance suggests a threshold level of 25 – 30% net income may be adopted. (Department of Transport, Local Government and Regions – Local Housing Needs assessment: A guide to good practice, July 2000).

Type of Property Price £ pcm

Approx net monthly income £

Approx. Gross Annual income £

End of terrace house £750 2500 42 857 Semi detached house £895 2983 51 137 Detached house £1500 5000 85 714

Using HM Land Registry data on house sales in the parish (www.mouseprice.com) using postcode area TN12, the average house prices in the last 3 months are – 1 bed properties £134,800 2 bed properties £190,000 3 bed properties £251,900 4 bed properties £391,900 5+ bed properties £549,700

To afford the average cost of a 1 bed property using the mortgage calculation shown on page 5, a salary of £34,663 would be required. To afford the average cost of a 2 bed property a salary of £48,857 would be required.

Information provided by Mouseprice states that the average property in the TN12 area costs £303,300 with average earnings being £25,263. This means that the average property costs just over 12 times more than the average salary. The source used by Mouseprice to assess price to earnings ratio is Calnea Analytics proprietary price data and earnings data – updated quarterly

Shared ownership

Local needs housing schemes provide rented and/or shared ownership options for those with a strong connection to the parish who wish to remain living in the parish and are unable to rent or purchase a home suitable for their needs on the open market. The respondents who completed section 2 of the survey have been assessed to ascertain if they are eligible for a local needs housing scheme.

To give an indication of respondents’ ability to afford shared ownership, levels of income and rent/mortgage have been taken into consideration on purchasing a 25% and 50% share of a property with estimated value of £134,800 for a 1 bed property, £190,000 for a 2 bed property and £251,900 for a 3 bed property. These values are taken from the average prices in the TN12 area found on the Land Registry by Mouseprice www.mouseprice.co.uk. Affordability is calculated using Moat’s mortgage and rent calculator http://homebuyoptions.co.uk/calculator/index.html

Calculations are made assuming a 15% deposit of mortgage share.

Property price £

Share Monthly mortgage £

Monthly rent £

Monthly Service charge

Monthly total £

Gross Income required

Approx Net Income

134,800 25% 168 232 80 480 16,230 11 361 134,800 50% 336 155 80 571 21,781 15 243 190,000 25% 237 327 80 644 21,776 15 669 190,000 50% 474 218 80 772 29,316 20 521 251,900 25% 310 430 80 820 27,727 19 409 251,900 50% 637 286 80 1003 37,530 26 271


13. ASSESSMENT OF HOUSING NEED

Assessing the 38 respondents who are in need of housing now

14 respondents were excluded from this section; 12 are currently owner occupiers and therefore do not qualify for affordable housing as they may have equity in their homes. 2 respondents did not fully complete section 2; therefore an analysis of their need could not be made.

The remaining 24 households are

• 6 x single people • 7 x couples • 11 x families

Single people – There were 6 single people

Age Group Frequency 2024 1 2544 4 6074 1

Current Housing Situation Frequency With parents 4 Housing Association 1 Private renting 1

Type of housing required Frequency House 2 Flat/house 2 Flat/house/bungalow 1 Flat/house/bungalow/accom suitable for older persons without support

1

Tenure required Frequency Renting 2 Shared Ownership 3 Renting/shared ownership 1

Number of bedrooms required Frequency One bedroom 4 Two bedrooms 2

Reason for seeking new home Frequency First independent home 4 Private tenancy ending 1 Current home affecting health 1

Income Frequency £49£95pw (£209£411 per month) 1 £96£145pw (£412£628 per month) 1 £146£210pw (£629£910 per month) 1 £211£249pw (£911£1079 per month) 2 £250£300pw (£1080£1300 per month) 1


None of the above respondents are currently registered on the local authority housing register.

5 of the above respondents currently live in Staplehurst; 1 respondent used to live there and still has family living there. All respondents have indicated that they fulfil at least one of the local connection criteria.

The following table shows the number of respondents who may be able to afford the various forms of tenure available; private rent, shared ownership and open market.

It should be noted that actual affordability of open market purchase currently depends on the ability to pay at least a 15% deposit and other finances necessary to buy a home. Actual affordability of shared ownership also depends on having the necessary finances.

Net Income Number of respondents

Private rent

Shared ownership

Open market

£49£95pw 1 0 0 0 £96£145pw 1 0 0 0 £146£210pw 1 0 0 0 £211£249pw 2 0 2 x 25% of

1 bed 0

£250£300pw 1 0 1 x 25% of 1 bed

0

Couples – there were 7 couples

Age Group Frequency 1619 1 2024 7 2544 3 6074 2

One of the above respondents did not indicate their partner’s age.

Current Housing Situation Frequency With parents 5 Tied accommodation 1 Private renting 1

Type of housing required Frequency House 3 Flat 2 Flat/house 1 Bungalow 1



Number of Bedrooms Frequency One 3 Two 3

One of the above respondents did not indicate how many bedrooms they required

Reason for seeking new home Frequency First independent home 3 Private tenancy ending 1 Setting up home with partner 3

Income Frequency £211£249pw (£911£1079 per month) 1 £250£300pw (£1080£1300 per month) 2 £351£400pw (£1517£1733 per month) 2 £410£500pw (£1734£2166 per month) 1 £510£600pw (£2167£2600 per month) 1

One of the above respondents is currently registered on the local authority housing register. All of the above respondents currently live in Staplehurst; they have all indicated that they fulfil at least one of the local connection criteria.

The following table shows the number of respondents who may be able to afford the various forms of tenure available for the size of property they said they require; private rent, shared ownership and open market.


Net Income Number of respondents

Private rent

Shared ownership

Open market

£211£249pw 1 0 0 0 £250£300pw 2 0 2 x 25%

share 1 bed 0

£351£400pw 2 1 2 x25% share 2 bed

0

£410£500pw 1 1 1 x 50% share 2 bed

1

£510£600pw 1 1 1 x 50% share 2 bed

1

Of the above 6 respondents who may be able to afford a share of a property, only 5 indicated the option to do so.


Families – there were 11 families

Ages:

Adult Age

Adult Age

Child Age

Child Age

Family 1 2544 2544 09 09 Family 2 2024 2544 1015 Family 3 2544 09 1015 Family 4 2544 2544 1015 1619 Family 5 4559 09 Family 6 2544 2544 09 Family 7 2544 2544 09 1015 Family 8 2544 2544 09 09 Family 9 2544 1015 1619 Family 10 4559 4559 1015 1619 Family 11 4559 2544

Current Housing Situation Frequency Housing Association 1 Tied accommodation 1 Private renting 7 Other 2

The above respondents who described their current housing as other are both living in shared ownership properties. One needs a larger home for their family and the other needs to move due to harassment from neighbours.

Type of housing required Frequency House 9 Bungalow 1 House/bungalow 1


Two of the above respondents did not answer the question

Number of bedrooms required Frequency Two bedrooms 2 Three bedrooms 9

Reason for seeking new home Frequency First independent home 1 Private tenancy ending 4 Need larger home 3 Present home too expensive 2 Current home affecting health 1


Net Income Frequency £96£145pw (£412£628 per month) 1 £146£210pw (£629£910 per month) 1 £211£249pw (£911£1079 per month) 1 £250£300pw (£1080£1300 per month) 3 £301£350pw (£1301£1516 per month) 1 £410£500pw (£1734£2166 per month) 2 £510£600pw (£2167£2600 per month) 1

One of the respondents did not indicate their actual income but said they were in receipt of benefits.

Six of the above respondents are currently registered on the local authority housing register.

All of the above respondents currently live in Staplehurst; they have all indicated that they fulfil at least one of the local connection criteria.

The following table shows the number of respondents who may be able to afford the various forms of tenure available for the size of property they require for their family; private rent, affordable rent, shared ownership and open market.


Income Number of respondents

Private rent

Shared ownership

Open market

£96£145pw 1 0 0 0 £146£210pw 1 0 0 0 £211£249pw 1 0 0 0 £250£300pw 3 0 0 0 £301£350pw 1 0 0 0 £410£500pw 2 0 1 x 50% share

of 2 bed. 1 x 25% share of 3 bed

0

£510£600pw 1 0 1 x 50% share 3 bed

1


Assessing the 57 respondents who are in need of housing in the next 3 years

33 respondents were excluded. 22 were owner occupiers and as such do not qualify for affordable housing as they may have equity in their homes. 4 respondents did not want to rent from a housing association or the shared ownership option. 7 respondents did not provide enough information for an assessment of their housing need to be made.

The remaining 24 households are –

• 11 x single people • 8 x couples • 5 x families


Single people – There were 11 single people.


One respondent did not answer the above question but said they wanted accommodation for older persons.

Current Housing Situation Frequency With parents 10 Private renting 1

Type of housing required Frequency House 3 Flat 2 Flat/house 5 Accom suitable for older persons without support

1



Reason for seeking new home Frequency First independent home 7 Setting up home with partner 3 Present home too expensive 1

Net Income Frequency £49£95pw (£209£411 per month) 1 £96£145pw (£412£628 per month) 1 £146£210pw (£629£910 per month) 1 £211£249pw (£911£1079 per month) 2 £250£300pw (£1080£1300 per month) 3 £301£350pw (£1301£1516 per month) 2

One respondent did not indicate their income.

One of the above respondents is currently registered on the local authority housing register.

All the above respondents currently live in Staplehurst; they have all indicated that they fulfil at least one of the local connection criteria.


The following table shows the number of respondents who may be able to afford the various forms of tenure available; private rent, affordable rent, shared ownership and open market.



Private rent

Shared ownership

Open market

£49£95pw 1 0 0 0 £96£145pw 1 0 0 0 £146£210pw 1 0 0 0 £211£249pw 2 0 2 x 25%

share 1 bed £250£300pw 3 0 3 x 25%

share 1 bed 0

£301£350pw 2 0 2 x 25% share 2 bed

0


Couples – there were 8 couples.


4 respondents did not give the age of their partners

Current Housing Situation Frequency With parents 6 Private renting 2

Type of housing required Frequency House 1 Flat 4 Flat/house 1 Bungalow 1 Bungalow/accommodation suitable for older persons, without support

1

Tenure required Frequency Renting 3 Shared Ownership 5



Reason for seeking new home Frequency First independent home 2 Disability/disabled 1 Setting up home with partner 4 Cannot afford mortgage 1

Net Income Frequency £96£145pw (£412£628 per month) 2 £146£210pw (£629£910 per month) 1 £211£249pw (£911£1079 per month) 4 £410£500pw (£174£2166 per month) 1



The following table shows the number of respondents who may be able to afford the various forms of tenure available; private rent, affordable rent, shared ownership and open market.



Private rent

Shared ownership

Open market

£96£145pw 2 0 0 0 £146£210pw 1 0 0 0 £211£249pw 4 0 4 x 25%

share 1 bed 0

£410£500pw 1 0 1 x 50% share 2 bed

1


Families – there were 5 families

Ages:

Adult Age

Adult Age

Child Age

Child Age

Child Age

Child Age

Family 1 2544 2544 09 1015 Family 2 2544 09 Family 3 4559 1015 Family 4 2544 2544 09 1015 1015 Family 5 2544 2544 09 1015

Current Housing Situation Frequency Private renting 5


Type of housing required Frequency House 3 House/bungalow 2


Number of bedrooms required Frequency Two bedroom 2 Three bedrooms 3

Reason for seeking new home Frequency First independent home 1 Cannot afford mortgage 2 Divorce/separation 1 Present home too expensive 1

Net Income Frequency £49£95pw (£209£411 per month) 1 £96£145pw (£412£628 per month) 1 £146£210pw (£629£910 per month) 1 £211£249pw (£911£1079 per month) 1 £301£350pw (£1301£1516 per month) 1



The following table shows the number of respondents who may be able to afford the various forms of tenure available for the size of property they require for their family; private rent, affordable rent, shared ownership and open market.



Private rent

Shared ownership

Open market

£4995pw 1 0 0 0 £96£145pw 1 0 0 0 £146£210pw 1 0 0 0 £211£249pw 1 0 0 0 £301£350pw 1 0 0 0


14. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS TO SECTION 2

The Housing Needs Survey has found a need for up to 48 homes for local people who are in need of affordable housing. They are 17 single people, 15 couples and 16 families. 24 respondents have a need for housing now and 24 in the next 3 years.

A need for a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties can be identified from the findings.

The 48 respondents who are in need of affordable housing indicated strong local connections to Staplehurst; 47 currently live in the parish and 1 does not; they previously lived there and currently have family living there.

Out of the total 48 respondents, 24 indicated they satisfy more than one of the local connection criteria.

Ages of respondents in housing need range from 0 10 to 6074. The majority of adults are in the age group 2544.

According to Mouseprice, the average cost of a house in the TN12 area compared to the average salary is over 12 times higher. Along with the current necessity of providing at least a 15% deposit this demonstrates the difficulty that those on even an average wage face when trying to secure housing.

The majority of respondents’ preferred tenure was shared ownership. The majority of respondents wanted a house; 3 people said they needed accommodation suitable for older persons without support.

In total, 12 households said they will need 1 bedroom, 23 said they would need 2 bedrooms and 12 said they would need 3 bedrooms (1 respondent did not answer the question). In terms of those households who want rented accommodation, further analysis of the data is needed to determine household size and type of property as this would be dependent on Maidstone Borough Council’s allocation policy.

33 respondents expressed an interest in shared ownership; 18 of these households indicated the ability to afford at least a 25% or 50% share of the size of property they require. More detailed analysis of their income, amount of deposit they have available and actual cost of the shared ownership property would be required to confirm affordability.

It is possible that 4 respondents have a high enough income to afford to buy entry level housing on the open market. However, this is dependent on obtaining a mortgage and their ability to raise at least a 15% deposit and meet the financial obligation of other fees associated with buying a home.

No one bedroom properties were found to privately rent at the time of writing the report. Due to a lack of hard data on average rental prices of various sized properties in Staplehurst, it is not possible to calculate some respondents’ ability to afford to privately rent. The lack of availability of one bedroom rental properties in the area could limit the opportunities for people who wish to stay in the parish and meet their housing need through this tenure.


15. APPENDIX S4 Question 28. Please tell us in your own words why you need to move and what

prevents you from doing so.

Mortgage required to afford a house would be too expensive.

To be affordably independent and remain in Staplehurst. Currently travel to work in Tunbridge Wells by train.

There is no affordable housing in Staplehurst. We will never be able to afford a £25,000 deposit on a home. I gave up a HA house in Tonbridge 6 years ago to move back to the village. I'm now paying high rent in a private house.

I am in my own 3 bedroom terraced house which means I cannot buy, not worth enough

I need to move because I am older. The bungalows in Staplehurst are too expensive for me.

Affordable housing nearer the M25 ring too expensive (especially with land)

Move into own home with partner, cost and lack of availability.

I have recently sold my home to a private landlord who has allowed my family to remain as tenants. My reason for this was as a lone parent I could not afford to pay off my mortgage. Maidstone Borough Council turned down my application for housing as they claimed I was already adequately housed.

My wife is now registered disabled, we have no heating upstairs. It would be easier if we lived in a bungalow, current private rental market does not provide what we are looking for. It is now only 4½ years till retirement.

We need to move as although our upstairs is large enough, there is not enough space downstairs. When there will at some point be 4 adults in the house (when the children have grown) it will not have enough space. We are unable to afford a large house as we cannot afford to increase our mortgage. I am not convinced our own children will be able to leave home as early as I did due to the cost of renting and mortgages.

Cost of new homes in area and lack of 34 bedroom homes with larger gardens.

Children unable to find affordable housing to enable moving out of family home

Am at present in work but will need to downsize when we retire

At 20 would need to leave home but can’t afford to. Don’t want to leave the village but don’t want to see the village destroyed. Is there any point with these surveys they will build regardless of that anyone says? It’s a shame they don’t live here then they would understand. Require own home

Need to move away from parents and have own place but waiting until wages can support that which will be in a year or so

Cannot find suitable accommodation and cannot live with mother forever hope to move with new partner with 2 children and 1 part time son

Do not have money to move. Cannot afford extra mortgage, also currently in an IVA.


Would like son to have available cheap housing to move out of parents home.

Rent too high, lack of cheaper rented accommodation.

Living with parents, can't afford to buy own house.

I currently live at home with my parents and the house is overcrowded. My parents could build a new house on their own land but due to certain ex parish councillor and the borough council they cannot get building permission.

Would need own accommodation if parents move out of area.

Want to start on housing ladder but costs are too high.

No money and no property available.

I do not need to move at the moment, but I anticipate that I will wish to set up my own home within the next few years.

We are getting old now and would like a bungalow.

Due to the current state of the economy we can no longer meet the monthly rent yet we cannot afford to move as we cannot afford the deposit on another rental.

Retirement in the near future could cause me to move. My income after retirement would cause financial hardship.

Low salary, mortgage difficult to come by. Not necessary or essential to move, but would like to.

Lack of income, student loan, no suitable housing.

I have 2 children one 11 year old girl, one 13 year old boy who share a room. Both would like their own space the girl refuses to share with me. Currently the only solution would be for me to sleep in the living room.

We need to move as we live in a 2 bed house and need a 3 bed as we have two children, one is a girl and the other is a boy. What prevents us from moving is not being able to get a mortgage and not being able to afford to.

Rent is too expensive.

Parents moving out of the area. I work in the village. I need independent accommodation to live with partner. Low joint income does not allow purchase.

To have own home but can't due to high property prices.

I want somewhere to live as a home for my family, I can't afford to buy, I don't want to worry about future availability of my 6 month let

Cost of housing and deposit needed.

I would like to move from flat to house with my own garden, also to start a family.


Because I own a part rent part buy and do not work, look after my disabled son and the ………….’s will not leave him alone. This has been going on for 10 years.

So many like my son in Staplehurst. My son wants to live with partner and son and unable to because he doesn’t earn enough to rent/buy, pay bills and support them. To rent is as much as to buy almost. Don’t stand chance.

Despite having a university degree, we are in low paid jobs and cannot afford a house in Staplehurst.

We don't need to move but our son would like to move back to the village if affordable houses were available.

I would like to set up home with my partner. There seems only help for single mothers and I know people who have lied to housing associations and have been able to get really super properties. There seems to be no help for people or couples who don’t want to lie to the authorities just a little bit of help to get on the housing ladder.

Kids need own space, cost prevents them moving out,

I want to move from parents home as I need to find own place.

I want to move to a house so myself and partner can start a family

Having recently had a baby earlier than expected and no funds to move due to being off work 3 months earlier than expected

Would like a garden and a more separate kitchen and to move away from hassle caused by kebab shop.

I do not want to move but council won’t let me be. Won’t come and talk to be or help me. I will move if I have somewhere to go. I have tried to talk to KCC about land swap and no reply maybe you could help me in a land swap or someone to buy my land so I can move.

I need to move to get rid of stairs. Finding a property that is suited to me.

I need to move out and live on my own, low wages prevent me from doing so.

No longer want to share a home, want to call a home my own.

House not big enough and I want another child.

At moment am living with parents, with my partner. Cannot afford mortgage and private renting does not allow for us to save.

We are living in tied accommodation, and would like to move somewhere but couldn't find an affordable house for us. But we are so desperate to move out to become independent.

Being in late 20s time to be independent wages not high, work in Ashford.

We would like more affordable housing i.e. shared ownership. To my knowledge there are only 10 such houses in Staplehurst. Our rent is quite high for size and amenities of property. We would like more security and this would come with part owning our home.


Due to both being in full time employment all we want is something more affordable in a village we have lived in all our lives.

I am living with my daughter and we both need our independence.


Staplehurst Parish Council Parish Office

Staplehurst Village Centre High Street, Staplehurst

TONBRIDGE, Kent TN12 0BJ

Parish Clerk

Mrs JS Bassett

Tel 01580 891761

email

[email protected]

website

www.staplehurstvillage.org.uk

Dear Parishioner

Staplehurst Parish Council has asked Tessa O’Sullivan of Action with Communities in Rural Kent, with the support of Maidstone Borough Council, to undertake a Housing Survey. We now seek your help with this process. We are having this Survey done for two important reasons:

² Firstly Maidstone Borough Council is preparing a new Local Development Framework which will include plans for housing development in the Borough over the next 15 years. We need to have an objective view of your opinions, in order to represent our community properly in responding to any proposals for new housing development in the Staplehurst area.

² Secondly we want to find out what may be needed in the way of affordable housing for local people, so that appropriate provision may be made in the future. The Survey may show that there is no such need or that there are particular requirements for some groups, such as young people starting new homes or older or disabled people needing suitable accommodation.

This Survey is really important to you and your family, as it will have an influence on the way Staplehurst is developed in future years. We have tried to make it simple with tick boxes but there is space to comment. If you do not anticipate you or your family needing affordable housing, then you only need to complete Section 1.

If you know of anyone who has left the Parish and would like to return, please contact the Parish Clerk on 01580 891761 for a further copy of the Survey.

To ensure independence, Tessa O’Sullivan will analyse the Survey and complete the resulting Report. This Report will be made available at the earliest date and published on the Staplehurst Parish Website. So please complete the Survey and return it in the SAE by 14 th October 2010.

Yours sincerely

Councillor John Perry Chairman, Staplehurst Parish Council

The Old Granary Penstock Hall Farm East Brabourne TN25 … · 3 Staplehurst Housing Survey 2010 1....

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