Rural exception sites
On this page you can find:
- what is an exception site?
- the rural affordable housing exception site process
- the map of exception sites
- examples of exception sites
What is a rural exception site?
Homes can only be brought forward on these sites if there is a proven unmet local need for affordable housing and a legal planning agreement, also known as an s106 agreement, is put in place to ensure that the homes will always remain affordable. The s106 agreement also ensures that the homes will be for those in need of housing and prioritised for applicants with a strong local connection to the area. For example:
- you have been in paid employment in the village for the last 12 months for 16 hours or more per week
- you have lived in the village for at least 5 years out of the last 8 years
- you have family members who are living in the village and have lived there for a period of 5 years or more
- special circumstances such as, if you have a significant role as a carer for a resident of the village in question.
The rural affordable housing exception site process
It is important to register on Home-link as soon as you can, as you cannot be nominated for affordable housing if not registered. If you wait until new homes are ready before asking for nomination, it is too late.
If applying for Shared Ownership you must also be registered with your local Help to Buy agent.
The process of creating a rural affordable housing exception site is broken up into 3 phases; inception, feasibility, and construction. Each of these is broken down into multiple stages which are listed below:
Inception
Getting started
Discuss the affordable housing needs of the village. This can be done by the Parish Council, District Council, a housing association, developers, land owner, or through neighbourhood planning.
A process for community engagement will be made if the decision is to proceed further.
Housing Needs Survey
A housing needs survey (HNS) is distributed to every household in the parish by Cambridgeshire Acre (commissioned by a council or housing association). Findings are then analysed and reported back to the parish council and Cambridgeshire Acre.
If a need for affordable housing has not been identified, no further action is needed. If a need for affordable housing has been found, start the process of site identification.
Site identification
If no site has already been identified, search for sites by working with the parish council and housing association (if applicable). A strategic housing land availability assessment is carried out and a walkabout with Cambridgeshire Acre and the Parish Council is organised.
If no potential site has been identified, the search continues. Once a site is found, the inception phase finishes and phase 2, feasibility, begins.
Feasibility
Initial site feasibility
A representative of South Cambridgeshire District Council will undertake an initial site appraisal and check the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) for any previous assessments. The planning department will then be spoken to regarding the general suitability and the representative will attend a planning surgery.
If the site appears unsuitable for an exception site, continue the site search and return to the inception phase. If the site does appear suitable, you can begin to choose a registered provider.
Registered provider selection
If no housing association is linked to the scheme, a registered provider (RP) must be selected.
Option 1: assess if we can bring the scheme forward.
Option 2: offer out to other housing associations operating in the district or through Cambridgeshire Acre.
The chosen registered provider will then assess the feasibility of the scheme and agree a housing mix. If the scheme is not viable it will need to be re-assessed (such as changing the housing mix). If it is viable, public consultation will need to be arranged.
Public engagement and consultation
Our representative, or the development team, will attend a Parish Council meeting with the selected registered provider to discuss the site identified. This will include an initial sketch layout, number of properties and what the mix of property types will be and explain the allocations process.
If the scheme is not ready, review the scheme based on the comments and repeat. However, if it is ready to proceed, the scheme can begin to be designed.
Scheme design and planning application
Our representative will need to attend a pre-application meeting with the registered provider, unless taken forward by Homes England (HE). They will also support any applications for Homes England grant funding. The selected registered provider will submit for planning. The representative will then complete the draft Heads of Terms to planning and attend the planning committee.
If the application was unsuccessful, revise the scheme if you can, or if not return the inception phase and start work to identify a new site. If the application was successful, proceed final construction phase.
Construction
Key milestones will be agreed with the chosen registered provider. These include:
- acquisition
- start on site
- date of allocations
- completion
Our representative will keep the Parish Council informed, as well as agreeing the protocol of the completion and arranging necessary publicity.
Once allocations have been completed, the registered provider will complete the allocations schedule.
Map of rural exception sites in South Cambridgeshire
Map uploaded on March 2021
Exception site examples
Chalk Hill, Foxton
Completed in January 2017 this exception site of 15 new council homes including:
- 4x one bed houses
- 6x 2 bed houses
- 5x 3 bedroom houses to rent
It was also a finalist for the LABC Building Excellence awards 2018 in the category ‘Best Social or Affordable New Housing Development.’ and was built in partnership with Burmor Construction and The Design Partnership.
Heslerton Way, Barrington
This site was completed in March 2012.
During development, Hundred Houses worked closely with The Barrington Green Charity and negotiations granted half an acre of the village green to add to the 1.8 acres already held.
After building 39 affordable homes around the village green, already the longest in England, an extension was added. In addition, a complex village green de-registration land swap was arranged, and the open space was transferred to the Parish Council.