Northern Area Plan 2016
Strategic Plan Framework: Housing

Housing continues to represent the greatest pressure on the land resource in the Plan area, and it is likely to continue to be the most widespread land use change over the Plan period. The need for additional housing is created by the formation of new households, due not only to population expansion but also to the decrease in typical household size, related to changes in society.

It is anticipated these trends will continue throughout the Plan period, as local average household size continues to decrease towards the national level. Housing need includes variety in dwelling size, type and tenure to meet the particular requirements of groups such as the elderly,people with limited incomes and those with disabilities. In addition, there will continue to be a need to replace dwellings lost to the housing stock through demolition, physical deterioration and conversions to other uses.

The Plan area is also subject to a local phenomenon. In recent years housing demand, particularly in the coastal settlements, has been greatly inflated by the demand for student accommodation and second homes. It is difficult to predict if this will continue at a similar scale throughout the Plan period, but this is likely to continue to be a major element of the housing market along the coast for the foreseeable future.