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Public housing stock and vacant dwellings in the Greater West of England, 2001 onwards
This data insight describes patterns and trends in public (local authority) housing stock and vacant dwellings in the Greater West of England, set within a national context. It combines indicators on public housing stock across the Greater West of England local authority areas from 2001 onwards.
Indexed comparisons are provided with England and England excluding London (2001=100) to show relative change over time. It also tracks vacant dwellings from 2004 onwards and compares the proportion of vacant stock across Greater West of England local authorities in 2024.
The Greater West of England is a bespoke geography comprising Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.
The analysis draws on official Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Live Tables, including dwelling stock and vacant dwellings data, compiled at local authority level. Data are based on annual administrative returns, with vacant dwellings calculated from the Council Tax Base and housing stock figures reflecting stock as at 31 March each year.
Together, these indicators provide a consistent, evidence-based view of how public housing provision and housing vacancy have evolved in the Greater West of England.
-39%
Public housing stock fell from 84,443 in 2001 to 51,547 to 2024
+17
Public housing stock increased from 100 to 117 index points, 2001-2025
32,582
Vacant dwellings in the Greater West of England reached their highest level since 2004 in 2025
2.92%
Highest share of vacant dwellings; in Gloucestershire, 2024
Public housing stock across the Greater West of England local authority areas, 2001 onwards
This visualisation shows how the balance of public (local authority) and private registered provider dwelling stock changed over time from 2001 onwards.
Local authority housing stock shows a long-term decline, falling from 84,443 dwellings in 2001 to 52,245 by 2025.
In contrast, private registered provider stock increases steadily, rising from 60,128 dwellings in 2001 to 115,129 by 2025, becoming the dominant form of housing stock. From the mid-2000s onwards, the gap between the two tenures widens.
By the mid-2010s, private registered provider stock overtakes local authority stock by a substantial margin. This difference continues to grow through to more recent years.
Public housing stock within the Greater West of England, national comparisons, index (2001=100)
This visualisation shows changes in the public housing stock index (2001=100) for England, England excluding London and the Greater West of England from 2001 to 2025.
Indexes for England and England excluding London fall from 100 in 2001 to a low of around 94–95 in the mid-2000s, before rising back to around 100 and 101 respectively by 2025.
In contrast, the Greater West of England diverges after the mid-2000s, increasing steadily from 100 in 2001 to approximately 117 by 2025.
By 2010, the Greater West of England surpasses its 2001 baseline at 103.45, while the index points remain below 100 nationally. The gap widens over time, with the Greater West of England consistently outperforming both national comparators.
Vacant dwellings within the Greater West of England local authority areas, 2004 onwards
This visualisation shows how the total number of vacant dwellings in the Greater West of England changed between 2004 and 2025.
Vacant dwellings increase from 24,651 in 2004 to a peak of 27,612 in 2009, before declining steadily to a low of 22,632 dwellings in 2016.
From 2016 onwards, vacancies rise again, reaching 30,943 in 2024 and increasing further to 32,582 in 2025, the highest level observed in the period. From the 2016 low point, the number of vacant dwellings increases by 9,950.
Overall, the trend shows an initial rise, a mid-point contraction and a sustained increase in more recent years. By 2025, vacant dwellings are 32% higher than in 2004, indicating a notable long-term increase despite interim declines.
Vacant dwellings (%), Greater West of England local authority areas, national comparisons, 2024
This visualisation shows the proportion of vacant dwellings as a share of total dwelling stock across England, England excluding London and the Greater West of England.
At the national level, vacant dwellings account for 2.81% of stock in England and 2.87% in England excluding London, both higher than the Greater West of England (2.65%).
Within the Greater West of England, vacancy rates vary noticeably, ranging from 2.27% in South Gloucestershire (the lowest) to 2.92% in Gloucestershire (the highest).
Bath and North East Somerset (2.73%), North Somerset (2.74%) and Wiltshire (2.74%) sit broadly in line with the regional upper range.
By contrast, Bristol (2.40%) and Swindon (2.47%) show lower vacancy shares compared with both the regional and national averages.
