Housing facts and figures 2004/2005 to 2021

Permissions and delivery of family housing

Our policy ensures developments deliver a range of housing sizes, especially three or more bedroom homes, for people of all incomes and different needs. In the Core Strategy 2011, major developments (of 10 or more units) must provide at least 60% two or more bedroom units, with a proportion of three, four or five bedroom units required in designated areas - density zones, action area cores and opportunity areas. This requirement is being carried through to the New Southwark Plan.

The following section provides the proportion of family homes (three or more bedroom units) approved and delivered against major developments across the borough. Even though the level of requirements for family size homes varies by designated area, it is a useful indicator of the overall provision of family homes in Southwark during the reporting period.

This is reported in gross terms due to unavailable historical data from earlier regeneration schemes. This missing data makes it difficult to know the net change (in terms of family homes), when some units, demolished through redevelopment, did not have the number of bedrooms recorded.

4.1 Gross approved family homes in number and tenure breakdown

Across the reporting period between 2004 and 2019, 8,702 family units from all developments were approved, equating to 580 new units permitted every year (Table 11). Out of the major developments approved, 6,565 family homes were secured, meaning one in every five homes approved on the major developments was a family home with three or more bedrooms.

Table 11 - Gross approved family homes and those approved on major developments

^{Source: Summary of housing approvals 2004 to 2019: Sheet 2: family homes and Sheet 3: major development}

As Table 12 shows, 84% of the overall gross affordable family homes approved were social rent, a total of 2,962 units and an annual average of 197. The remaining comprised 1% affordable rent (2 units) and 15% other intermediate products (549 units). This addressed the housing needs identified in Strategic Housing Market Assessments (see evidence base section), which sets out that the highest need in social rented and homes of up to 50% of a low market rent was two, three and four bedroom units. 

Table 12 - Gross approved affordable family homes by tenure

^{Source: Summary of housing approvals 2004 to 2019: Sheet 2: family homes}

4.2 Gross completed family homes in number and tenure breakdown

Across the 16-year reporting period, 4,782 family homes were built on all developments (Table 13). Out of the major developments, 3,161 family homes were built, taking up 13% of the units delivered on these developments (198 units delivered annually).

Table 13 - Gross family housing built overall and those built on major developments

^{.Source: Summary of housing completions 2004 – 2019: Sheet 2: family homes; Sheet 3: major developments}

Table 14 - Gross completed Affordable family homes by tenure

Of the total family homes delivered, almost half (47%) were affordable at 2,172 units. Among all the affordable family homes, 88% were social rent, equating to 1,900 units and an annual average of 119 units. Over the period, 28 affordable rented family homes were delivered, along with other intermediate ones totalling 244 units.

 ^{Source: Summary of housing completions 2004 to 2019: Sheet 1: overall by tenure}

Page last updated: 22 February 2022