This eighth paper, the final one in the Planning for the Future series, looks at regional differences in the demand for affordable housing and the profile of those who live there.

Substantial differences exist among regions in terms of the demand and pressure placed on a region’s housing supply. Pressures on affordable housing are increasing due to high house prices and rents.

There are many historical reasons why differences exist among the regions in the level of demand for affordable housing, the type of housing in most demand, the profile of households, and among potential applicants to social housing. Social housing has developed in different ways over time to fill different needs. Some areas have an older stock of properties in urban centres, whilst others have a higher proportion of peripheral housing estates. These were often built in the post-war building boom of the 1950s and 60s.