Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA)

The  Berkshire (including South Bucks) Strategic Housing Market Assessment [5MB] provides detailed information about existing and future housing needs and demand, including the need for affordable housing and a mix of housing, to meet the needs of the community. It forms part of the evidence base for the preparation of the new Local Plan.

A summary of the approach and conclusions of the SHMA is available in the presentation given to stakeholders on 20 October 2015 [1MB] .

The study has been carried out on behalf of the Berkshire local authorities (Bracknell Forest Borough Council, Reading Borough Council, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough Borough Council, West Berkshire Council and Wokingham Borough Council) and the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

For West Berkshire, the study indicates a need for an average of 665 new dwellings a year for the period 2013 to 2036.

As part of the Local Plan review to 2036, we are working with the local authorities within the Western Berkshire Housing Market Area (HMA) and other neighbouring authorities to establish new housing requirements through the Local Plan process. We have considered the findings of the SHMA against more recent data. This sensitivity report [2MB]  was published in March 2018.

The four local authorities within the Western Berkshire Housing Market Area (HMA) are also working collaboratively, under the Duty to Cooperate, to identify opportunities to assist in meeting the identified future housing needs of the area. As part of this work, the West of Berkshire Spatial Planning Framework [3MB] has been prepared which sets out a framework for the consideration of potential development options. It is important to note that this is a non-statutory document and does not allocate land for any purpose.