Essex Housing Targets See 37% Increase Under New Government Methodology

The government has set a new annual housing construction target for Essex’s local authorities, requiring them to build 14,088 homes. This represents a 37% rise from the prior target of 10,316 homes annually, following the introduction of a revised government methodology for assessing housing requirements. In contrast, the county has averaged 7,460 new homes annually over the last three years. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook stated that the government is “restoring mandatory housing targets,” while Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake criticized Labour, alleging they are pursuing “a war on rural England.” The government’s newly published targets indicate a 106% increase for Maldon’s housing goal. Maldon, Essex’s least populated district with 66,000 residents, is now required to construct 569 properties annually. Previously, the district had been building an average of 391 new homes each year, exceeding the government’s former local housing need target of 276. Castle Point’s yearly target has doubled, with the south Essex district now assessed as needing 701 new homes annually, an increase from 349. The area has added an average of 101 new dwellings per year over the last three financial years. Southend-on-Sea’s annual target has risen by 20% to 1,405 houses per year, despite having completed 334 new homes annually in recent years. Basildon is now required to construct 1,287 new properties annually, an increase from 1,039, having added an average of 302 over the past three financial years. Under the revised formula, the number of homes Thurrock is required to build has decreased from 1,158 to 1,071. However, the district has only been constructing approximately one-third of its necessary new homes. Chelmsford and Colchester have demonstrated significant housing construction, averaging 901 and 950 homes per year respectively, which was close to their former local housing targets of 913 and 1,043. Nevertheless, both authorities must now raise their annual construction rates under the new methodology to 1,454 and 1,300 houses, respectively. Tendring and Braintree have exceeded their calculated housing needs over the past three years, with their new targets now set at 1,034 and 1,115 homes annually.