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Affordable Housing on Exmoor – A Simple Guide.

We recognise that for some people with strong local connections, because of high house prices, it is difficult to find a home within their community. The Authority has adopted planning policies which places a strong commitment to providing housing for local people across the Moor.

The following is a simple summary of the policies. Please bear in mind that each site will have different features and we are happy to look at the options on each site with you.

The policies allow the provision of an affordable house in a number of circumstances It is possible

to build a new house within or adjoining a village
to convert a building in a hamlet or farmstead
to convert an existing building in a village
to convert a holiday let to a local needs unit
to convert an agricultural workers dwelling to an affordable unit if it can be demonstrated the agricultural unit is no longer needed, and/or
to sub-divide a larger house in the countryside to a number of local units.

All these options apply to private individuals as well as Housing Associations. A legal agreement is required to ensure that, once the first occupant moves on, the next occupant is also in local housing need.

Any occupant (not owner) of one of these units has to be in local housing need. Local means

  • some one who has lived in that Parish or an adjoining Parish for the last 10 years, or 10 in the last 20, or moving in to that Parish to take up an essential job, (there is a longer list of potential local occupants under Policy H2)
  • is in housing need (need for larger/improved accommodation, living with parents etc) and,
  • can not afford to meet their own housing needs on the open market.

The Rural Housing Project has an independent project officer and assistant who look confidentially at these personal details to determine whether a prospective occupant meets the criteria. The Rural Housing Project can help local residents and other bodies through the process and provides free independent advice on rural housing matters.

As you can see there are a number of opportunities for local people to provide a house for themselves. The provision of rented accommodation by Housing Associations is an important component but also those with, say a barn to convert or a holiday let, may be able to provide a local needs unit. Planning officers are happy to help and advise and all of the units that have been provided have been the result of discussions in some form to ensure that they are presented in the way that is most likely to receive permission.

For more details on the Rural Housing Project please see the information at http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/affordable-housing.htm. If you wish to receive free planning advice on the possibilities of a particular site or area then please contact a member of the planning team, details can be found at http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/plannning-advice.htm If you wish to look at the policies in more detail then please look at the Local Plan which can be found at http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/local-plan.htm.

Put simply we are here to help so please ask either the Rural Housing Project and/or planning staff and we will see what can be done.