Housing Stock Analytical Resource

The aim of HSAR is to bring together a range of data on the characteristics, fabric, condition and energy efficiency of the housing stock in Wales. It will provide a continuous and robust anonymised evidence base, where possible at the individual property level. It will be used to inform housing and environment policy direction, particularly housing conditions and fuel poverty.

HSAR will link administrative, survey and modelled data. It will be used alongside the Welsh Housing Conditions Survey to provide improved modelling of data at a lower level of geography. In addition it will provide more up-to-date data than that available from periodic housing conditions surveys.

We are taking an iterative approach to development of HSAR, with the aim being to add extra value and learn something new with each iteration. Crucial to this is feedback from stakeholders and we are keen to work as collaboratively as possible.

It’s anticipated that HSAR will help improve the data available on housing deprivation for the next update of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation in 2019. It will also improve Fuel Poverty estimates between housing conditions surveys. Data will also be made available for linking to wider datasets, enhancing the broader evidence base for policies such as health, education and the economy.

A first progress report was published in September 2018 to update users on:

• our progress in identifying administrative data sources relevant to the development of HSAR;
• our current thinking on the model for hosting the resource and allowing access to the data;
• to invite feedback to help us ensure our programme will meet the needs of users in future.