key worker housing study

Cambridgeshire is one of the fastest growing regions in the county - both economically and in terms of population. But high house prices has led to a problem where 'key workers' are unable to find housing within reasonable reach of their workplace.

To help meet the demands of this growth South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City commissioned, in early 2002, a joint study into the provision of affordable and key worker housing in the Cambridge area.

The study finds that:

  • Average house prices are up to six times greater than average incomes (£125,762 and £20,800 respectively in Cambridge and £126,762 and £25,900 in South Cambridgeshire)
  • This masks some very high incomes pulling up the average, and half the population have incomes significantly below the average (the mid point in the distribution of incomes, is £15,000 in Cambridge and £17,400 in South Cambridgeshire)
  • 50% of households could not afford to buy an average home in the area
  • 80% of employers have recruitment problems and 50% problems with staff retention, related to high house prices and rents
  • Key workers are looking to buy and not to rent.


In response

the Cambridgeshire City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council intend to:

  • consider the findings of the study and develop new policies in the forthcoming Local Plans to secure more housing that is affordable to key workers struggling to get on the housing ladder, potentially leading to specific initiatives
  • lobby for more Government and Housing Corporation funding for what is probably the fastest growing region in the Country both in terms of economic and population growth

The Key Worker Housing Study was undertaken by Cambridge Housing and Planning Research.

A full copy of Cambridge Housing and Planning Research, Research Report V, Research into Key Worker and Affordable Housing in the Cambridge Area, produced by Sarah Monk et al, is available to view at the Council's offices in Cambourne.

It also available (to purchase) from:

Cambridge Housing and Planning Research
Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge
19 Silver Street,
Cambridge CB3 9EP

or you can download it here:

For more information

Contact the planning policy team on 01954 713183 or e-mail: ldf@scambs.gov.uk.