North Isles Housing Needs Survey 2008

As part of the Initiative @ the Edge, North Isles Ltd original Development Plan that was put together after intense community consultation, housing was found to be a major issue and needed addressing. This led to the North Isles Housing Needs Survey which was carried out in the latter part of 2008. We knew the North Isles communities viewed housing as linked to the issues of sustaining and growing population and economic development.

Area

The North Isles of Yell, Unst and Fetlar are included in our survey which has a combined household total of 756.

The Mid Year Population estimates in 2005 (according to GROS) are:

Yell 956

Unst & Fetlar combined is 771 (before closure of the Saxa Vord Base)

Overall North Isles population of 1,727.

The School roles at September 2008:

Yell - Mid Yell Secondary 39 pupils, Primary 48 pupils and Nursery 20 pupils. Cullivoe Primary 15 pupils. Burravoe

Primary 14 pupils (Total 136 children).

Unst - Baltasound Secondary: 26 pupils, Primary 25 pupils, Nursery 7 pupils. (Total 58 children).

Fetlar - there is currently only 2 pupils.

Survey Process

We sent out the four-part questionnaire to every household in the islands of Yell, Unst and Fetlar with a stamped addresses envelope to encourage everyone to return them. Extra copies of the questionnaire were available from the office at anytime.

Fetlar - 44 questionnaires to each household with 11 replies – 25% return

Unst - 298 questionnaires to each household with 81 replies - 27% return

Yell - 414 questionnaires to each household with 93 replies - 22% return

Part One – Existing Housing

About resident’s current accommodation and whether there was anybody in the household that would require accommodation of their own in the next 5 years and if so asked them to complete Part Two of the questionnaire.

Part Two – New Households

Asked to predict their own housing needs in the next five years, whether they would need accommodation and whether that would be private or rented. We also asked them how much they would be prepared to pay so we could try and get a picture of what kind of accommodation was required and the possibility of a private firm building in the North Isles.

Part Three - If moved residence from North Isles

Aimed at folk that had already left the North Isles and whether housing was one of the factors that would encourage them to return.

Part Four - If second/holiday home

Aimed at folk who did not reside in the North Isles but own property here and whether they were likely to relocate to the NI permanently or intended to sell their properties.

Local Business

We knew from the community consultation that Housing had an effect on local business so we initially telephoned few businesses and asked them the question “does the lack of good, affordable accommodation for employees have a detrimental affect on your business?”

The feedback was a definite YES so we decided to put out a written questionnaire to all the local businesses in the North Isles.

North Isles: 30 questionnaires to businesses with 16 replies - 53% return which proves that housing really does have a detrimental affect on local business.

CONCLUSION

Part One – (About your existing housing)

The majority of the population in the North Isles are private home owners and have lived here for more than 10

years.

People that have moved home within the last 5 years have relocated within the North Isles. Most popular reasons

for this have been: employment, family circumstances and the need for more space.

103 out of 132 people find that their present accommodation is adequate for their families needs. Those that did

not feel that their home was adequate registered improvements and repairs as the main reasons why not.

The average ages of households are 45-59 years with 25-44 year olds close behind.

The average household is best described as a “couple” household.

141 people who returned their questionnaires were in favour of development of affordable homes for families and young people. Cullivoe, Mid Yell, Burravoe and Fetlar being the areas that people felt would benefit most. It was not felt to be particularly beneficial to be housed near local amenities

PART TWO – (New Households)

The average age was 16-44 years - the majority are presently single and employed.

Most folk are currently living with other family members but would prefer their own accommodation and would be quite happy to rent from the local council/HHA.

When asked the maximum mortgage that they would be able to afford the majority was between £115 - £125K.

If rented accommodation available the average rent that people would be prepared to pay would be £61 - £70 per week.

Most people would prefer two bed roomed housing and Yell was the most popular Island to be housed.

PART THREE - (completed if moved residence from the North Isles)

Four people returned this part of the questionnaire

There was a definite agreement that it was a hard decision to leave and had to relocate out with the North Isles due to circumstances but would have preferred to stay.

It was generally agreed it was unlikely they would return to the North Isles but are considering their options. They all agreed that affordable housing and the availability of it was a moderate influence on their decision.

PART FOUR – (completed if secondary/holiday home)

It was agreed by those who completed this part of the questionnaire that they did not intend to move here permanently in the future nor were they likely to sell either.

Initiative at the Edge-North Isles has now started to put together a “Land Bank” which will hold the information on any land that would be available for development within the North Isles.