In this chapter

• Introduction to development management policy
• Housing
  • Policy H/AH: Affordable housing
  • Policy H/RS: Affordable housing regeneration schemes
  • Policy H/RES: Rural exception sites
    • Policy H/RES: Location of rural exception sites
    • Policy H/RES: Scale of rural exception developments
    • Policy H/RES: Cross-subsidy between market and affordable housing
    • Policy H/RES: First Homes exception sites
    • Policy CLH: Community-led housing for exception sites
  • Policy H/EC: Affordable housing requirements within older person and specialist housing (including Extra Care)
  • Policy H/SH: Specialist housing and homes for older people design
  • Policy H/AS: Accessible homes and residential space standards
  • Policy H/HM: Housing mix
  • Policy H/BtR: Build to rent developments
  • Policy H/CL: Co-living schemes
  • Policy H/PBSA: Purpose built student accommodation
  • Policy H/SBCHB: Self-build and custom housebuilding
  • Policy H/GT: Gypsies, travellers and travelling show people
  • Policy H/M: Moorings
• Climate change
• Nature and ecosystem services
• Green Belt
• Jobs and economy
• Healthy, vibrant and inclusive communities
• Heritage and design
• Sustainable transport
• Pollution, contamination and safety
• Minerals and waste
• Waste
• Infrastructure

Policy CLH: Community-led housing for exception sites

Please read these options together with the policy for rural exception sites

Policy background

9.40    Community-Led Housing is a way of delivering housing developments to meet local community needs. Paragraph 73 of the NPPF (December 2023) sets out that ‘Local Planning authorities should support the development of exception sites for community-led development (as defined in Annex 2 of the NPPF) on sites that would not otherwise be suitable as rural exception sites.’
 
9.41    The NPPF further sets out that these sites should be on land which is not already allocated for housing, and the following constraints should apply to the site and proposed development:

• The development should comprise one or more types of affordable housing as defined in Annex 2 of the NPPF
• A proportion of market homes may be allowed on the site at the local planning authority’s discretion
• The site should be adjacent to existing settlements
• The development should be proportionate in size to existing settlements (not larger than one hectare in size or exceed 5% of the size of the existing settlement)
• The development should not compromise the protection given to areas or assets of particular importance in the NPPF (such as conservation areas, Green Belt land, heritage assets and Sites of Special Scientific Interest)
• The proposed development should comply with any local design policies and standards.

Policy options for the new Local Plan

Option A

Do not take forward specific policy on exception sites for community-led development with planning applications being determined in line with National Policy and Guidance and the Development Plan.

Advantages of Option A

• Reflects national policy.

Disadvantages of Option A

• Does not consider Bath and North East Somerset specific requirements.

Option B

Take forward a criteria-based policy on exception sites for community-led development within B&NES.

Advantages of Option B

• Provides a criteria- based policy on exception sites for community-led housing within Bath and North East Somerset.. 

Disadvantages of Option B

• Reiterates national policy.