WEST SOMERSET RURAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The Rural Housing Project (RHP) also works with rural parishes in the West Somerset district but outside the National Park. The RHP is involved in identifying the need for, and delivery of, affordable housing in the villages and small villages (see West Somerset Local Plan policies SP/3 and SP/4). Anyone interested in housing in Minehead, Williton or Watchet should contact West Somerset Council.  A list of completed rural affordable housing schemes can be seen below.

Allocation of Affordable Housing
Affordable rented housing in West Somerset is now allocated through the Somerset Homefinder system. Anyone wanting to access affordable housing needs to register with Somerset Homefinder. They will be assessed and allocated a level of housing need on a scale of Gold (high), Silver (medium), Bronze (low). All homes which come up for letting will be advertised, mainly by email, but other methods are available. People then have to express an interest in the properties they would like. Properties are then allocated on the basis of need and time on the housing register.

With new rural schemes, planning restrictions are put in place giving priority for allocation to people who can demonstrate a strong local connection with the parish or adjoining parish to that in which the property is located. These planning restrictions override the standard Somerset Homefinder process, so that, for example, someone with a Silver level of housing need, but with a strong local connection, would be given priority over someone with a gold level of need but no local connection.

These planning restrictions can vary, but in general are likely to follow the following principles:-

1. Lived in the Parish, or an adjoining one, for a total of ten years in the previous 20. This does not need to be continuous.
2. They can demonstrate that they have a real need to live in the parish (or an adjoining one) because they have permanent employment in that parish, and that employment requires them to live close to their place of work.
3. They have a parent/child/sibling who has 10 years or more residence in the parish (or an adjoining one) who needs them to live nearby in order to provide support or care.

In all cases people must be able to demonstrate that they are in affordable housing need, and that they cannot meet their housing requirements through renting or buying on the open market.

There is a cascade provision working outwards but, for an exception site, WSC would expect to see the homes going to people from the Parish or adjoining Parishes.

Lonlay Meadows at Stogursey is a mixed development of affordable housing and
open market housing.

The following table lists the completed affordable housing in the rural parishes of West Somerset district (outside the National Park) during the last 3 years:

West Somerset Local Plan Policies
The West Somerset Council adopted Local Plan (April 2006) identifies the following settlement hierarchy in the policies set out below.  These policies control the development of new affordable housing.  New rural affordable housing is only likely to be developed in the settlements named in policies SP/3 and SP/4.

POLICY SP/1 - Settlement Hierarchy
The Local Planning Authority recognises the following settlement hierarchy for development purposes:

• Minehead will be regarded as a town.
• Watchet and Williton will be regarded as rural centres.
• Brushford, Carhampton, Crowcombe, Dunster Marsh, Kilve, Stogumber, Stogursey and Washford will be regarded as villages.
• Bicknoller, Brompton Ralph, Holford, Huish Champflower, Monksilver, Old Cleeve, Sampford Brett, Skilgate, Upton, West Quantoxhead and Withycombe will be regarded as small villages

In all cases development will be considered in accordance with their size and function, individual characteristics and constraints.

POLICY SP/3 - Development in Villages
Within the following villages; Brushford, Carhampton, Crowcombe, Dunster Marsh, Kilve, Stogumber, Stogursey and Washford, development* will be limited to that which supports their social and economic viability, protects or enhances their environmental quality and is unlikely to lead to a significant increase in car travel.

* (Residential development in a village will be limited to conversions, infilling or the redevelopment of previously used land and small groups of dwellings).

POLICY SP/4 Development in Small Villages
Within the following small villages; Bicknoller, Brompton Ralph, Holford, Huish Champflower, Monksilver, Old Cleeve, Sampford Brett, Skilgate, Upton, West Quantoxhead and Withycombe, development* will be limited to that which supports their social and economic viability, protects or enhances their environmental quality and is unlikely to lead to a significant increase in car travel and where for residential development it usually provides only for affordable housing to meet an identified local need.

* (Residential development in a small village will usually be limited to conversions, infilling or the redevelopment of previously used land and small groups of dwellings).

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