Parishioners may recall Broadland Housing Association has been considering residential development proposals in North Elmham for some time. A housing need survey was undertaken and community consulted on a proposal to develop land south of the Kings Head road junction. However, Breckland Council’s call for sites for the new Local Plan has delayed matters. 

Broadland Housing Association attended North Elmham’s Parish Council on 1 April 2026 and advised it is considering alternative development proposals on land north of Back Lane, east of the Kings Head pub. Broadland Housing Association shall be undertaking a further housing need survey, to consider latest local need in North Elmham along with adjoining parishes of Beetley, Billingford, Bintree, Brisley, Horningtoft, Gately, Guist and Worthing. 

Housing need in rural areas can often be hidden and not necessarily apparent to the wider community or statutory authorities. An individual or household is considered to be in housing need, when they require separate or alternative accommodation and are unable to rent or buy housing generally available on the open market.

Shared ownership allows a household to buy a share in a home and pay rent on the portion retained by the housing association. Affordable rent properties are let at rents discounted below open market levels and generally capped at the Local Housing Allowance. National planning policy requires new affordable homes developed in rural areas to remain affordable in perpetuity and so there would not be a Right-to-Buy. 

Whether you consider yourself to be in housing need or not, the information you provide is important as it will help give a wider understanding of the local housing market. Information you provide will be treated as strictly private and confidential and only used for the purposes of this survey. 

All households are asked to complete Part 1 of the survey and those who consider they have a housing need are also asked to complete Part 2 of the survey. The survey can either be completed online, by following the link below, or by returning a hard copy using the pre-paid envelope provided.  We politely request that surveys are completed by Friday 26th June.

If there is more than one person or group of people living within your current household potentially needing separate accommodation, then they should complete a separate survey form. Friends and family currently living outside the parish who can demonstrate a strong local connection may also complete the survey. 

Please find below the Housing Need Assessment to complete online. Alternatively, you can find a word document or PDF format attached that can be filled in and sent to adam.ballard@broadlandgroup.org.