Policy information sourced from the Epping Forest District Local Plan 2011-2033

H3 Rural Exceptions

  • Planning permission may be granted for smallscale schemes for affordable homes on sites where planning permission would not normally be granted, where those sites are related to Small Villages and rural communities, where there are no residential allocations proposed of a sufficient size to make provision for affordable homes, or where such sites do not, in accordance with the provisions of Policy H2, provide for sufficient affordable homes when granted planning permission to address the full need for that Small Village or rural community. Such schemes will need to satisfy the Council that:
    1. there is a demonstrable social or economic need for affordable homes for local residents which cannot be met in any other way and which can reasonably be expected to persist in the long term. Planning applications will be expected to be supported by a local housing needs assessment;
    2. the development is well-related to the existing Small Village or rural community and there is no significant detrimental impact to the character of that Small Village or rural community and the surrounding countryside, or would cause significant harm to the purposes of the Green Belt. Proposals involving extensions into the open countryside or the creation of ribbons or isolated pockets of development are unlikely to be considered acceptable and should be avoided. There should be no significant material grounds for objection including on highways, infrastructure, environmental or amenity matters; and
    3. suitable arrangements have been secured to ensure that all of the affordable homes built are available only for initial and subsequent qualifying occupiers (see Part C) whose total income is insufficient to enable them to afford to rent or buy a home of a sufficient size on the open market in the specified parish.
  • The management of the affordable homes provided will be undertaken by a Registered Provider which is a Preferred Partner of the Council unless otherwise agreed by the Council.
  • For the purpose of this Policy ‘local resident’ is defined as:
    1. persons who have permanently resided in the specified parish for at least two years; or
    2. persons who are no longer a resident in the specified parish but who have been a resident there for at least three years during the last five years; or
    3. persons who are in permanent employment in the specified parish and have been for a minimum of two years and are working at least an average of 24 hours per week; or
    4. persons who have close relatives (i.e. parents, grandparents, children, brother or sister) living in the specified parish who have lived there for at least five years.
  • Should there be insufficient applicants from the specified parish when the homes become available for occupation, then applicants from neighbouring parishes within the District who comply with the eligibility criteria set out above will be considered.
  • The Council will consider the provision of a small proportion of market homes within the proposal site if it can be demonstrated through a viability assessment (with supporting evidence), which is transparent and complies with relevant national or local planning policy and guidance applicable at the time, that such housing is financially necessary to ensure the delivery of the affordable homes.
  • Where a viability assessment has been submitted in accordance with Part E above the Council will undertake an independent review of that appraisal for which the applicant will bear the cost.

For more information please see the Epping Forest District Local Plan 2011-2033