The way people live influences the way services are delivered. Changing family types need different services, for example if there are more single person households, more smaller homes are needed. Conversely, areas with high numbers of large families need homes with four or more bedrooms. Likewise the distribution of pensioner households affects the level of services for older people required in each area. A key priority for action in the City Strategy is to develop diverse and welcoming neighbourhoods with good quality housing – because housing choice needs to keep pace with rising aspirations if the city is to retain younger people and also address homelessness. The Housing Strategy supports the City Strategy in the delivery of housing and housing related services that meet needs, offer choice, solve problems and help to create attractive, sustainable neighbourhoods.
The Housing Needs Survey 2007 is the most in-depth piece of housing needs information that has been produced for Wolverhampton in recent years. It is based on a sample survey and secondary data including 2001 Census and 2004 ONS population projections and includes information on household types and sizes and predictions for the types of housing that will be required based on this information. Key findings that impacted upon the housing market were: