Policy information sourced from Hurley and the Walthams Neighbourhood Plan

Gen1 – Rural Exception Sites 

Proposals for small-scale affordable housing development that is within or well related to an existing settlement will be supported, provided:

  • The homes on the scheme meet a demonstrable local need for affordable homes from people with a local connection to the parish within which the scheme is located, whereby need is demonstrated by an up to date Housing Need Study of that parish
  • The scheme does not exceed 10 dwellings in total
  • The scheme is designed to respect the characteristics of the local area including the countryside setting.

The initial and future occupation of all affordable homes will be controlled by means of a Planning Obligation to ensure that each home remains as affordable housing for people with a local connection in perpetuity, whereby a local connection is defined by people with a demonstrable connection to the village thus:

  • The occupants currently live in the village and/or;
  • The occupants have immediate family in the village (immediate is Parents and or children); and/or
  • The occupants are employed in the village and have been for a minimum of 3 years; and/or
  • The occupants are employed as key workers in the village, i.e. teachers, care workers, nurses, firemen, police.
  • Should future vacancies arise, the same criteria will be required. In the event that a vacancy arises in an affordable home and there is no household that meets the criteria of this policy, then the definition of local connection will be extended to the neighbouring parishes within Hurley and the Walthams designated neighbourhood area. In the event that there is no household from that extended area that meets the criteria of this policy, then the allocation may be made available to the Royal Borough General Housing Needs Register.

Cross subsidy through the provision of open market housing on the scheme shall be allowed only where it ensures the delivery of the affordable housing and shall comprise the minimum number of open market dwellings necessary to ensure the delivery of affordable housing as part of the same development proposal, to be demonstrated by a viability appraisal of the full scheme.

For more information please see the Neighbourhood Plan