Steven Broomhead is chief executive of Warrington Borough Council and writes a regular column for the Warrington Guardian

One of the most discussed topics in my day to day work is the provision of housing.   How many new houses, their location, their design and quality, their costs and affordability together with an apparent insatiable demand are matters that constantly appear in my mailbox.

We live in a successful and thriving town with good employment opportunities and excellent health and educational achievements.  However, there are existential challenges regarding the future provision of housing.  There has been a collapse in home ownership in the young and middle aged.   In 1980 48% of adults under 35 lived in their own homes – now it is 20%.   The ratio of house prices to average local earnings is at a 150 year high and it takes up to 15 years to save for an average property here.

We also have an ageing but active population.  The number of people who are 65 and over will increase by 10% over the next 5 years and will make up some 29% of our population.  One impact of this is the suppression of the housing supply.    Ageing well is very positive but it does have social and economic consequences.

There is a strong voice in the town for more homes and an equally strong voice that worries about the impact on the environment and green space.   The government planning reforms may assist us in the future.  Permitted development rights may be put into place making it easier for the conversion of offices and derelict buildings into new homes.  The current planning permission for loft conversions will also be eased.

A challenge here will be that the “brownfield first” approach which makes perfect sense has already been in place for a number of years particularly in our town centre.   There also is the issue of the quality of life of actually living in some of the conversions – particularly if you are a family.

There is also an urgent need to get on with the building of social and affordable homes.  Our local housing associations and some other developers have made a  good start but there’s much more to do.

The issue of housing and supporting the community provision, location of new builds, affordability will remain an important conversation for us all over the next few years.  Our housing situation will not be resolved with one magic bullet.  We will need a different, wise and sustainable decisions in the context of an agreed plan policy and a supportive growing local economy.