Brent New Housing Survey 2008
Introductions
• James Cialdea
– Computer Science, Upton MA
• Douglas Heath
– Civil Engineering, Andover MA
• Ryan Lawrence
– Mechanical Engineering and Business,
Somerset MA
• Anthony Richardson
– Civil Engineering, Haverhill MA
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Anthony
Doug
Massachusetts
WPI
James
Ryan
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Why We Are Here
• We are here completing our Interactive
Qualifying Project (IQP) requirement
– Part of the requirement for graduation from
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
– Gives us valuable experience working in a
professional environment
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Outline
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Objectives
Methods
Findings
Recommendations
Acknowledgments
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Objectives
• Research characteristics of new housing
developments
– Homes created within the last five years
• Specific goals were to obtain information
regarding:
– Household size
– Overcrowding
– Resident Satisfaction
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Summary of Methods
• Postal questionnaire was distributed to
all residents living in new homes
– 17.3% response rate
• A cash prize draw and reminder letters
were used to increase response
• Database created for quick and easy
data entry
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Postal Questionnaire
• Question Design
– Easy to understand
– Two page limit
• Cover Letter Design
• Address List
– Over 97% of homes created in last 5 years
• Initial Mailing – March 18, 19, 20
• Reminder Letter Mailing – April 4
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Database Design
• Used Microsoft Access
• 4 main tables for storing data
• Response entry form designed for speed
• Queries for different types of analysis
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Responses Versus Time
8 April
Responses per Day
4 April
Time
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Response
•4563 recipients
• 4661 mailed
• 98 bad addresses •17.27% response
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Summary of Findings
• Average household size is 2.48
– Affordable housing has a larger average household
size
• Recent migrants from outside UK have higher
average household size
• Overcrowding has increased in new housing
– Having more children increases overcrowding
• Residents are satisfied with their homes
– Providing a garden or balcony improves
satisfaction
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Average Household Size by
Ownership
3.00
2.76
2.56
2.48
2.50
2.14
2.00
1.99
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
Own
Shared
Ownership
Private
Rental
Social
Rental
All
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Household Size of Recent
Migrants
UK Residents of 5+ years
Migrants within last 5 years
Number of
Responses
612
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Avg Household
Size
2.55
3.04
• Residents who moved to the UK within the
past five years have larger household sizes
– 87% confidence
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Definition of Overcrowding
• Having more persons in a household than
livable rooms
– Livable rooms include large kitchens, dining rooms,
living rooms or, lounges
– Livable rooms do not include bathrooms or rooms
used for storage space
• Having more persons in a household
than bedrooms
• We chose the first definition in our
project
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Overcrowding in 2001 and 2008
100%
80%
91%
69%
60%
2008 Survey Data
40%
2001 Brent Census
Data
27%
20%
5%
0%
Less than 1
1 to 1.5
4% 4%
1.5 or More
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Overcrowding by Ownership Type
36.72%
40.00%
31.66%
35.00%
24.04%
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
5.47%
5.03%
1.92%
16.19%
31.25%
2.11%
26.63%
22.12%
10.00%
14.08%
5.00%
0.00%
Owned
Shared
Ownership
Overcrowded
Social
Rental
Severely
Private
Rental
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Overcrowding with Children
Average Persons Per Room
2.00
1.78
1.80
1.50
1.60
1.31
1.40
1.20
1.05
1.00
0.80
0.82
0.60
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
0
1
2
3
Number of Children
4
5 or more
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Satisfaction with Number of
Rooms
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Amenity Space Satisfaction
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Extra Amenity Space Satisfaction
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Summary of Recommendations
• Provide more amenity space in future
developments
• Increase the size of homes in new
developments
• Conduct further research in the areas of:
– Overcrowding
– Migrant household trends
• Surveying recommendations:
– Ensure adequate time
– Use reminder letters
– Use cash incentives
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Provide More Amenity Space in
New Housing
• Our data show that having a garden
increases resident satisfaction
– Whether garden is private or communal
does not matter
• Providing a balcony or patio also
improves satisfaction
– Could be used in areas with limited space
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New Homes Need to Be Larger
• 27% of newly developed homes are
overcrowded
• Many overcrowded homes have children
in them
– We support LDF suggestion of changing the
definition of family sized housing from two
or more bedrooms to three or more
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Investigate the Effects of
Overcrowding
• Satisfaction is not decreased in
overcrowded homes
• Investigate other possible negative
consequences of overcrowding
– Spread of disease and negative effects on
education
• Look into standardizing the definition of
overcrowding
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Investigate Migrant Household
Trends
• Our data show with 87% confidence that
recent migrants have larger household
sizes
• Investigate:
– Why?
– Characteristics of housing developments
migrants move to
– Causes for migration
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Surveying Recommendations
• Ensure adequate time is available
– Time constraints limited what we could do
• Short questionnaire
– Residents are more likely to fill out a
questionnaire if it will not take long
• Use reminder letters
– Response rate increased after reminder
letter was mailed
• Use cash incentives
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Acknowledgements
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Michael Maguire
Ken Hullock
Amy Tyler-Jones
Ben Martin
Business Administration office
Alisdair Maclean
Post Room
Our WPI advisors
Everyone else for your hospitality and support
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Questions?