Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)

A study carried out by a local planning authority to establish the land that is available and suitable for new housing development, and its potential to meet the future need and demand for housing in the local area. The study identifies housing land that is in the pipeline (e.g. already has planning permission or is allocated for housing in the Development Plan) but has not been developed yet (and the likelihood it will be developed) as well as other land that can be used for housing development in the future.

As part of the analysis there is an assessment of past trends in windfall housing sites becoming available (i.e. sites that were given planning permission but which had not previously been identified in Development Plans). In assessing whether land is actually available and suitable for development, the study looks for example at whether development is likely to be financially viable (and whether there may be ways of overcoming any such constraints) and whether it can be developed sustainably.

The findings of the study are used to decide how much, and where, new housing should be built (and thus provided for in the Development Plan). Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessments are meant to be carried out in partnership with neighbouring planning authirities, for each sub-regional housing market area – in collaboration with other stakeholders - and now coordinated by the Regional Developmemnt Agency.