The emerging Local Plan states at paragraph 5.28 that "Opportunities to provide housing (especially homes suitable for older people) in rural areas of the District are much more limited than in the urban areas because of the Green Belt." Haulfryn agrees and considers that park homes present an opportunity for the District to meet specific local needs for older people in rural areas. Older people often look to downsize their properties but often this is not possible for a number of reasons such a

We support SDC inclusion of the rural exceptions policy which seeks to provide 100% local needs housing however we would advise that all restrictions placed on any 'enabling' market housing should be removed. Attempts to restrict the market for 'enabling' market housing would likely reduce the viability of the overall development thus reduce the absolute number of affordable dwellings available for local people. We believe that the policy as currently worded is counterproductive to the aims of t

* Halstead Parish Council strongly support this policy.

Support. The policy is considered to be in line with policy VC3 of the AONB Management Plan which seeks to increase and improve the supply of affordable housing in the AONB for those with proven local needs

* Clear definition of what constitutes Rural must be given. In addition – given the constraints under Policy 4 "Applications to extend dwellings…. will not be permitted" – presumably that would extend to any element of "market" housing you have permitted and surely would be subject to successful legal challenge given the criteria applied to "Exceptional Circumstances" Green Belt development which is relaxed at best

On behalf of Andrew Tickle Paragraph 5.28 explains that there is increased level of demand for housing in rural areas and introduces an exception site policy. Graham Simpkin Planning agrees that a policy for exception sites is required. Up to date Rural Housing Needs Surveys are an important part of the evidence base. It is essential that the questions asked are consistent and a template (preferably agreed by all Kent local authorities) should be provided by the Council. Policy 10 (Housing

Policy 9 – Provision of affordable housing CPRE supports the use of 'exception sites' for local needs affordable housing. In the Issues and Options consultation we suggested cross-subsidy as a way to bring forward sites being held back by landowners with long-term market housing ambitions. There are obvious dangers of attempts to exploit otherwise inviolable Green Belt land, therefore setting clear limits instead of 'some' (5.31) or 'an element of' (Policy 10) market housing will be essential.

Policy 10 states that on rare occasions, rural exception housing may include an element of market housing in addition to affordable housing. It then goes on to set out the conditions which will need to be met for that to occur. Whilst it may be appropriate to state in the explanatory text that such development will only occur on rare occasions, there is no need to include such a statement in the policy itself. The controlling factor will be the conditions that will apply rather than the rar

On the whole I support this proposal, but have concerns about the policy as regards market housing. There is a risk that this will be used to drive a coach and horses through the intent of the policy. We could end up with estates of half a dozen executive homes and only 1 or 2 rural exception houses. Could an indicative limit be set on the percentage of market housing?

The plan should identify specific locations in the Green Belt immediately adjacent to existing towns,villages and settlements where local need housing could be provided if such need is properly identified in an up to date housing rural housing needs survey. In the past the vague nature of the policy has led to such schemes failing as a result of Judicial Review.