Policy information sourced from the Guildford Local Plan: Strategy and Sites

H3: Rural exception homes

Small scale affordable housing developments in the Green Belt, which can include pitches for Gypsies and Travellers not meeting the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites definition of a gypsy or traveller, will be permitted to meet identified local affordable housing needs provided that:

  • the site adjoins or is closely related to, and in safe and reasonable walking distance of a rural settlement, and
  • the number, size and tenure of homes would be appropriate to meet, or to contribute to meeting, the identified affordable housing needs of the local community , and
  • the affordable homes are all secured in perpetuity.

The minimum number of market homes to make a rural exception scheme viable will be permitted where:

  • a developer demonstrates that the scheme would be unviable without the inclusion of market housing, and
  • it does not inflate the threshold land value, and
  • it is suitably integrated into the rural exception development.

For more information please see the Local Plan