Nottingham City Council’s recent housing update reveals that the city has consistently exceeded its housing delivery targets, despite facing new challenges posed by increased government requirements and evolving local needs.
National and Local Housing Targets
The UK government has set an ambitious national target of delivering 300,000 new homes annually by the mid-2020s.
While no binding local targets are mandated, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) like Nottingham must assess and meet their local housing needs according to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Nottingham’s housing needs are determined using the Standard Method, which incorporates household growth projections and affordability adjustments.
Since 2021, Nottingham has been subject to an additional 35% “urban uplift” in housing requirements due to its status as one of England’s 20 largest cities.
This has significantly increased the city’s housing targets. For instance, the local requirement was set at 1,190 homes per year from 2018 to 2023, but the Standard Method’s adjustments increased the 2023/24 requirement to 1,826 homes.
Meeting Targets
Nottingham has a robust history of meeting its housing targets, with notable exceptions during economic downturns in 2013/14 and 2014/15. However, the city has since recovered, with an impressive 14,354 net dwellings completed between 2011 and 2023, surpassing the initial target of 11,300 homes.
Student housing has played a significant role in this achievement. Of the 15,792 gross completions from 2011 to 2023, 7,311 units were student accommodations, comprising 46.3% of the total. This high concentration of student housing, especially in the city center, reflects Nottingham’s demographic and educational landscape.
Family and Affordable Housing
The city has also focused on increasing the supply of family housing and affordable homes. Family housing (three or more bedrooms) constituted 27.7% of new completions outside the city center in recent years. In 2022/23, 107 new affordable dwellings were completed, making up 11.4% of gross completions, a slight increase from previous years.
Land and Future Supply
A critical factor in Nottingham’s housing strategy is the efficient use of Previously Developed Land (PDL). In 2022/23, an impressive 99.7% of new builds were on PDL, with a cumulative 96.3% from 2011 to 2023. As of April 2023, Nottingham had planning permissions and approvals for 10,565 dwellings, ensuring a strong pipeline of future developments.
Despite these successes, the future presents challenges. The city’s current housing land supply, though sufficient to meet needs until 2028, is projected to fall short if the 35% uplift remains in place. The estimated housing requirement from 2023 to 2041 is 33,210 dwellings, but available land supply is anticipated to accommodate only 26,685 homes, leaving a shortfall of 6,525 dwellings.
Strategic Planning and next steps
The forthcoming Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan will outline future housing requirements and strategies to address the projected shortfall. This plan, set to replace the current Core Strategy, will be critical in navigating the constraints and ensuring sustainable development.
• Student apartments planned on site of former Nottingham pub
