NatCen wins bid for English Housing Survey

NatCen Social Research's bid for a leading role in the new English Housing Survey consortium has been successful. The English Housing Survey is commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and explores the quality of housing in England.

The EHS is a large-scale complex survey with two stages: an interview and a physical survey of homes. It will be the first time all the different elements of EHS are let as a single contract, so NatCen Social Research will be both providing methodological expertise and overall project management.

This research will be undertaken by a consortia including: Building Research establishment (BRE) with extensive experience of EHS, and a world-leader in building condition and energy surveys, CA Designs trading as MMBL who have managed the physical survey element of EHS since its inception in 2008 and Susan Purdon (BPSR) one of the UK's most respected survey statisticians and a regular partner of NatCen Social Research.

NatCen Social Research's bid proposed an innovative approach to unclustered sampling. It also promised a properly integrated approach across the consortia using NatCen Social Research's tried and tested case management system. The bid also detailed continuing improvements and innovations for future years and suggested new strategies for promoting EHS's results.

The English Housing Survey provides valuable information and evidence to inform the development and monitoring of DCLG's housing policies. Results from the survey are also used by a wide range of other users including other government departments; local authorities; housing associations; landlords; academics; construction industry professionals; consultants; and the general public.

Penny Young, Chief Executive of NatCen said:

"The quality of the nation's housing underpins so much that is important to the lives of the public.  It raises fundamental questions about affordability, security of tenure, how we can use energy more wisely, and building flourishing communities: so housing is absolutely fundamental to our overall wellbeing and economic prosperity. And we see the English Housing Survey as a great opportunity to contribute to better lives through great research"

 ENDS

Notes to the Editors

1. NatCen Social Research, Britain's largest independent social research organisation, aims to promote a better-informed society through high quality social research (www.natcen.ac.uk).
2. The proposal for the English Housing Survey (EHS) has been developed by a consortia led by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen Social Research), in partnership with BRE, CA Designs (trading as MMBL) and Susan Purdon of Bryson Purdon Social Research
Contact:

Anne Summers
Communications Manager - National Centre for Social Research
E: Anne.Summers@natcen.ac.uk
T: 0207 549 9565