Land Availability and Information for Landowners

The Community Council for Somerset's Rural Housing Enablers work to deliver affordable housing in parishes where there is an identified need. However, the availability of land is one of the most important issues affecting delivery of affordable housing to Somerset's villages. Most villages have little or no spare land available for building within the development boundary, or "planning line", as designated by the Local Authorities' Local Plan. However, in rural areas, most local planning authorities operate what is known as an 'Exceptions site' policy*. This allows planning permission to be granted on land outside, but adjacent to, the development boundary for affordable housing for local people where there is an identified need (e.g. a need as 'identified' by a Housing Needs Survey carried out by the Community Council for Somerset). This type of housing is usually secured by something called a Section 106 Agreement (which will ensure that local people are given priority for any affordable housing built, and that housing remains affordable for local people in perpetuity). The amount of land required, is usually quite small (many affordable housing schemes in villages contain between 6 and 10 houses). Some landowners give land, recognising the long term benefit to the community of affordable housing for local people. Others negotiate a price for the land, with a Housing Association (based on its value as an 'Exceptions site').

* The 'Exceptions site' policy is one of the things which make affordable housing in villages possible. Land outside the development boundary is usually agricultural land (and has a much lower value than land designated inside the planning boundary for residential development). When used on an Exceptions Site basis, the land value is likely to be calculated by a Housing Association, as a multiple of agricultural value (although the value, will in general, be lower than that which might be paid for a piece of land inside the development boundary).

If you are a landowner and are interested in finding out more about making a small piece of land available for affordable housing, please contact the Community Council for Somerset's Rural Housing Enablers by clicking here.

To view information about what is affordable housing click here

To view information about affordable housing scheme types click here

To view information about how the Community Council for Somerset can help click here

To see which areas we are currently working in click here