CCN Analysis - Housing in Counties

This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of housing trends across England’s county and unitary areas over the past decade. It highlights significant shifts in tenure, escalating affordability pressures, rising homelessness, and increasing strain on infrastructure and planning systems.  

Despite delivering over half of England’s new homes in the past decade, county areas face deepening challenges driven by population growth, under‑supply of affordable housing, and a planning system that lacks stability.  

Our report concludes that counties need a long‑term, properly resourced national housing plan that addresses supply, affordability, homelessness, and housing standards in a more coherent and locally responsive way.

Comprehensive data analysis featured in the report reveals that:

• County areas delivered 51% of all new homes in England over the last decade, with supply rising by 28% in the most recent five‑year period.
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• Homeownership has declined overall in county areas, with 195,000 fewer mortgaged households, while 450,000 more households are renting privately.

• This increase in renters outpaced even London. Housing affordability has deteriorated: average county house prices are now 11.1 times earnings, higher than most other areas.
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• Affordable housing delivery increased by 38% yet still meets only a fraction of need.
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• Homelessness and use of temporary accommodation have risen significantly, with county areas seeing a 52% increase in households in temporary accommodation.

Recommendations outlined in the report include:  

• Provide greater planning system stability and strengthen protection for emerging local plans.
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• Re-introduce strategic planning across county geographies.
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• Reform developer contributions rather than introduce an Infrastructure Levy.
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• Expand delivery of genuinely affordable and socially rented housing.
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• Improve controls over second homes and short‑term lets.
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• Accelerate the Renters Reform Bill and introduce a statutory Decent Homes Standard for the private rented sector.
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• Increase LHA rates sustainably and reset temporary accommodation subsidy levels.