Policy information sourced from the Mole Valley Local Plan

H4: RURAL EXCEPTION HOUSING

1. In the Designated Rural Area (as set out on the Policies Map), a development of affordable housing of up to 1ha or 5% of the settlement size it relates to, as defined by the settlement boundary shown on the Policies Map (whichever is larger), may exceptionally be supported on land which would not normally be used for housing, provided that:

  • A local need for housing has been demonstrated though a local housing needs survey
  • The affordable housing could not reasonably be provided as part of a site specifically identifiedor allocated for residential development
  • All reasonable alternatives have been considered and the proposed site is considered to be themost suitable site or is the only site deliverable
  • The number, size and tenure of homes would meet or contribute to meeting the identifiedaffordable housing needs of the local community
  • The site adjoins or is within a 15 to 20-minute walk of the boundary of a defined town centre,local shopping centres or village, as shown on the Policies Map
  • The proposal respects the setting, form and character of the village and does not harm thesurrounding landscape
  • The affordable homes are all retained as affordable housing in perpetuity.

2. A limited number of market dwellings will be permitted to make a rural exception site viable provided that:

  • A viability assessment is submitted demonstrating that:
    1. the scheme would not be viable without the inclusion of the market housing; and,
    2. the amount of market housing proposed is the minimum need to make the scheme viable
    3. the inclusion of market housing has not inflated the threshold land value
  • They are integrated into the rural exception development.

For more information please see the Mole Valley Local Plan