City of York Council's planning committee (27 September) will consider an assessment of York's Strategic Housing Market, which will highlight key issues that need to be considered as the council progresses the Local Development Framework (LDF) and assesses planning applications.

The assessment was carried out on behalf of the council by Fordham Research and builds on the 2006 report. It adds a greater level of detail, looking at the make-up of the local population, and demand for different types and sizes of housing.

It highlights the 'wide gaps' between the types of housing in York in terms of their weekly cost. For example, the price level at which households can enter the housing market is double the level of social rent. Meanwhile, newly built properties are almost twice as expensive as the market entry rent level.

The report indicates that housing need is greater than it was in 2006 and notes that the growth of the private rented sector is likely to be a long-term feature of the housing market. It calls for housing policies to address the needs of people who are unsuitably housed in private rented accommodation, and reports that the council's 50 per cent affordability target is justified in maximising opportunities to provide more affordable housing in the city.

It also suggests that planning policy should be clear about whom intermediate housing - a step between social rented housing and open market housing - is for. In order to make this type of housing meaningfully affordable developers will be required to agree substantial discounts off the open market value. Eligibility for this type of housing is not as clear cut that for affordable housing for those on very low incomes and this will need to be addressed through policy review.

The planning committee will be asked to endorse the Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2007 study for development control purposes by using it as a guide when agreeing the most appropriate housing tenure, size and type on individual sites. If this approach is agreed, the study will then replace the 2006 assessment.