Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment

The purpose of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) study is to provide up-to-date information on the future housing potential of the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, and to identify the land that is available (or likely to become available) for housing in the foreseeable future. This information will form part of the evidence base for the Local Development Framework (LDF). In particular the SHLAA is relevant to the Regeneration Development Plan Document (DPD).

Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3) introduced a new approach to planning for housing, which requires Local Planning Authorities to demonstrate a 15-year supply of housing land from the date of the adoption of the relevant DPD. The Stockton-on-Tees SHLAA is a technical study required by PPS3 to support the new approach.

The broad methodology for the SHLAA is set out in the National Practice Guidance. This requires potential housing sites to be tested according to a framework of:

• Suitability (is the site a suitable location for housing?)
• Availability (is it available now or is there a reasonable prospect of it becoming available?)
• Achievability (is there a reasonable prospect of housing being achieved on the site?)

The SHLAA was first undertaken in 2008 and an update has been carried out each year. You can view some of SHLAA Frequently Asked Questions in the Additional Resources below and download the current Stockton SHLAA by clicking here.