Where would the housing be located?

Much of the affordable housing developed in rural parishes is located on 'exception sites'. These are sites beyond the village boundary or within villages with no boundary. Residential development is permitted on such sites as an exception to planning policy. The housing will always remain affordable and for the benefit of local people. The site itself must meet the criteria set out by the planning authority. Usually, all potential sites around the settlement will be considered in order to find the best site.

Sites within the village boundary may provide affordable housing as part of a market housing development. However these sites are usually too expensive to provide only affordable housing and the housing will not necessarily be for local people.  These are not 'exception sites'.