Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA)

The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) 2025 provides clear and up-to-date evidence to support housing and planning policy across Wakefield District. It is a key document used by the Council to assess development proposals and by applicants when preparing planning applications.

The SHMA 2025 includes:

• analysis of the Wakefield housing market and its links to neighbouring areas
• assessment of the need for market and affordable housing, including tenure mix and dwelling types
• evidence on how housing need and demand vary across sub-regions of the district
• detailed recommendations on the distribution of dwelling types, sizes, and tenures
• identification of future demographic trends, including the needs of older people, disabled residents, and other specific groups
• updated affordability benchmarks and guidance on what constitutes genuinely affordable housing
• recommendations for Build to Rent, accessible housing, and specialist accommodation

The SHMA supports the implementation of the Wakefield District Local Plan and aligns with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2024) and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).

How the SHMA is used

• Applicants should use the SHMA when preparing planning applications, particularly in relation to housing mix, affordability, and specialist housing needs
• The Council uses the SHMA to determine planning applications and ensure developments meet the identified needs of Wakefield’s communities
• the SHMA informs Local Plan policies including SP5 (Scale and Distribution), SP6 (Housing Mix and Affordability), and SP8 (Build to Rent)

Previous Assessments

While the 2019 SHMA and 2016 SMHA remain useful references, the 2025 SHMA supersedes previous versions where updated evidence is available.