The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This policy supports affordable housing on rural exception sites, which are plots in places not normally released for housing, including the Green Belt. Four tests must all be met: the scheme is led by or has clear support from the local community; it meets an identified housing need shown in an up-to-date survey or neighbourhood plan; it is small scale, well designed and within or next to a settlement boundary; and a planning obligation secures the homes for local needs in perpetuity. Community support is usually shown by written backing from the town or parish council.
An unofficial plain English summary. The official wording below is
what counts at examination; check it before you rely on anything here.
The text below is extracted automatically from the official PDF and may
contain artefacts; the PDF is authoritative.
Policy HO.5
Rural Exception Sites
Local communities are encouraged to bring forward proposals for affordable housing
schemes which meet the needs of their communities. To facilitate this objective, in
accordance with Policy DS.2, the development of affordable housing on rural
exception sites will be supported in principle in locations that would not normally be
released for housing (including in the Green Belt) where all of the following criteria are
met:
1. The proposals are led by or have the demonstrable support of the local
community;
2. The proposed accommodation will, in terms of the number, size, type and
tenure of dwellings proposed, meet an identified housing need, evidenced
either in a reliable and up-to-date housing needs survey or a neighbourhood
plan allocation;
3. The proposed scheme will be small in scale, of appropriate design and located
within or adjoining an existing settlement boundary;
4. A planning obligation is provided to ensure that the delivery of the scheme
together with its future management will meet the identified housing needs of
the host community both initially and in perpetuity.
Policy HO.5 ~ Development Management Considerations
Community support
The purpose of a Rural Exception Site is to meet the housing needs of a community. It
is therefore important the community either brings forward a proposal or has been
integral to its preparation.
In the experience of the Plan Authorities most schemes are delivered working in
partnership with Registered Providers who can provide their financial and technical
resources, as well as ensuring schemes are properly managed in the long-term. It is
expected that the community will have been involved in development of a scheme
from the outset and is able to offer their support to the proposal. Evidence to
substantiate both the community engagement work and community support will be
expected as part of any planning application. The support of the local community will
ordinarily be demonstrated by the written support of the town or parish council or a
Neighbourhood Plan.
Evidence of Need
Rural exception sites are intended to meet the housing needs of a community;
therefore robust evidence of housing need is required. This can be evidenced either in
a neighbourhood plan or a reliable community-led housing need survey. It is expected