Transport for New Homes mapped the Government’s new housing targets against public transport satisfaction scores from IPSOS and discovered that in many of the local authority areas which have been given high targets, more people are dissatisfied with the quality of public transport (buses, trains, trams and the tube) in their local area than are satisfied.

In fact, some of the highest Government housing targets are in areas with the lowest levels of public transport satisfaction, meaning the Government’s new housing plan risks creating hundreds of thousands of car-dependent homes.

Under the Government’s housing plan, some local authorities will need to double, triple or even quadruple the number of new homes they are building each year to meet new targets. In some of these local authority areas, we found the level of satisfaction with the quality of public transport was very low – with considerably more people dissatisfied than satisfied – and often half that of regional satisfaction levels. 

Examples of high housing targets and low public transport satisfaction: 

• Castle Point Borough Council has to build 595% more housing per annum to meet its new targets, yet satisfaction with public transport in the area is -18% versus a regional average of -5%.
• Fareham Borough Council has to build 406% more housing per annum, yet satisfaction with public transport in the area is -14% versus a regional average of 4%.
• Derbyshire Dales District Council has to build 161% more housing per annum to meet its new targets, yet satisfaction with public transport in the area is -24% versus a regional average of -12%.
• East Hampshire District Council has to build 159% more housing per annum to meet its new targets, yet satisfaction with public transport in the area is -24% versus a regional average of 4%.
• Malvern Hills District Council has to build 140% more housing per annum to meet its new targets, yet satisfaction with public transport in the area is -29% versus a regional average of -13%.
• Calderdale Council has to build 116% more housing per annum to meet its new targets, yet satisfaction with public transport in the area is -38% versus a regional average of-18%.

In areas that scored between -25% and -50% for the quality of public transport in their local area, we found there were still high housing targets:

• Somerset Council has to build 37% more new homes but has a public transport satisfaction rating of -41%, versus a regional average of -18%.
• Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has to build 107% more new homes but has a public transport satisfaction rating of -41%, versus a regional average of -13%.
• Calderdale Council has to build 116% more homes but has a public transport satisfaction rating of -38%, versus a regional average of -18%.
• Rutland County Council has to build 164% more homes and has a public transport satisfaction rating of -33%, versus a regional average of -12%.
• Malvern Hills District Council has to build 140% more homes, but has a public transport satisfaction rating of -29% versus -13% regionally.
• Cotswold District has to build 189% more homes and has a public transport satisfaction rating of -28% versus -18% regionally.
• Bromsgrove District Council has to build 343% more homes and has a public transport satisfaction rating of -27%, versus -13% regionally.

The figures show that there is a complete lack of joined up thinking, with no correlation between where we are building new homes and quality public transport. We have to plan more intelligently. New developments should be built around really good public transport from day one, otherwise we are consigning hundreds of thousands of people to car dependency and traffic chaos.

Housing targets aimed at rural or semi-rural parts of the country and a developer-led choice of location, are plonking more and more giant housing estates on fields on the edge of towns and villages, places where it’s all about driving. The result is increased congestion, limited housing choices for those who don’t want to drive everywhere, and dying town centres. The planning system needs to direct building in more sustainable locations that will work with new and existing public transport infrastructure and promote regeneration and economic growth.

Transport for New Homes’ recent report, What is being built in 2025? In search of the station, made a number of recommendations to Government to avoid creating yet more car-dependent sprawl. Read What is being built in 2025? In search of the station in full.