Policy information sourced from the Combined Policies of Epping Forest District Local Plan (1998) and Alterations (2006).

GB16 Affordable Housing

Planning permission may be granted for small-scale “affordable” housing schemes within the smaller settlements, as an exception to the normal policy of restraint, where the Council is satisfied that:

  1. there is a demonstrable social or economic need for the accommodation in the locality which cannot be met in any other way and which can reasonably be expected to persist in the long term. An application would be expected to be supported by the local Parish Council and a proper appraisal of need;
  2. the development is well-related to the existing settlement and there is no detriment to the character of the village or the countryside, or to Green Belt objectives. Proposals involving extensions into the open countryside or the creation of ribbons or isolated pockets of development should be avoided. There should be no significant grounds for objection on highways, infrastructure or other planning grounds; and
  3. suitably secure arrangements will be made to ensure the availability of the accommodation, as built, for initial and subsequent local needs households whose total income is insufficient to enable them to afford to rent or buy a dwelling of a sufficient size on the open market.

For more information, please see the Combined Policies document