Rural exception sites The process

The need for affordable housing can come from anyone, but typically comes from: 

• a parish council
• a landowner bringing forward a piece of land
• someone in the community identifying themselves as having an affordable housing need
• the local rural housing enabler asking the parish council if they would like a new housing needs survey, as they expire every three to five years. 

A housing needs survey is:  

• An anonymous questionnaire sent to every household in the parish. 
• It identifies the amount, types and the tenures of affordable housing that are needed.
• It establishes what is affordable to households looking for somewhere to live.

How we use the survey 

The results of the housing needs survey are then used by the community (for example, the parish council, Community Land Trust, housing association or local authority) to decide whether to investigate building a housing scheme in the parish. 

The best place to start when looking for site options is with the parish council.

Each council is familiar with its area, community and history – all of which can be essential in identifying a site. 

We invite the parish council, local authority, community land trust and planners to walk around the parish looking for suitable sites.

We appraise possible sites, looking at several factors to decide if they're suitable, including: 

• the location
• access
• topology
• size
• overhead cables and trees. 

Once a possible site is identified, we: 

• find out who the landowner is
• see if they’d be willing to sell at the rural exception price – this is typically £10,000 per home. 

We’ll commission an architect to draft a scheme design to make the case for raising finance. 

We’ll carry out a financial viability assessment to establish the cost and funding requirements. This will include speaking to: 

• Homes England
• the local authority
• our board. 

We’ll organise a community consultation event, giving everyone an opportunity to have their say on the design of homes, housing types and tenure mix. We will: 

• display images and examples of what is being proposed, with opportunities for comment
• answer questions about what the scheme will provide and who will live in it
• record all comments in a report that explains how they have been accommodated and if not, why this has not been possible. 

Following the consultation, we'll finalise the design. 

Having been involved throughout the process, the local planning team will be expecting the full planning application. 

Once approved, land is purchased with a Section 106 agreement in place. This means that the homes will always remain in perpetuity as affordable for local people. 

We tender and appoint a contractor to build the homes. 

Once the build is underway, we attend site meetings to monitor progress. 

The local connection criteria are set out in the Section 106 agreement, as part of the planning approval. 

Where possible, we  hold an open event for local people to find out more and ask questions about the lettings process 

The homes are advertised by the local authority, and they provide us with nominations, with applicants who have a local connection taking priority. 

Our housing team meets, interviews and does a financial check for each nomination. Successful applicants will be allocated a home. 

On completion of the build, residents move in, and often there is a community celebration.