In this chapter

• Introduction to development management policy
• Housing
  • Policy H/AH: Affordable housing
    • Policy H/AH: Affordable housing (large sites)
    • Policy H/AH: Affordable housing (first homes)
    • Policy H/AH: Affordable housing (small sites)
    • Policy H/AH: Affordable housing (viability)
  • Policy H/RS: Affordable housing regeneration schemes
  • Policy H/RES: Rural 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 H/AH: Affordable housing (small sites)

About this page

How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works

These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:

Policy background

• Relevant national policy or regulations
• National or regional trends
• Local situation and needs/li>
• How we have dealt with this issue in the past
• The thinking behind the policy

Policy options for the new Local Plan

We may suggest a variety of approaches:

• Keeping existing policy as it is
• Making small changes
• Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
• Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future

Policy option analysis

• A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.

More on this topic

Read the Housing topic paper and Local Housing Need Assessment (LHNA) for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more. 

Explore the policy

Select a section below to read more.

Policy background

9.14 Paragraph 65 of the NPPF sets out that provision of Affordable Housing should not be sought for residential proposals that are not major development applications, other than in designated rural areas (meaning areas with extra protections for nature. These were formerly called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but are now called National Landscapes). In these areas, policies may set out a lower threshold of 5 units or fewer).

9.15 The Cotswolds National Landscape and Mendip Hills National Landscape are designated rural areas within Bath and North East Somerset, and cover almost a third of the local authority area. Both the Cotswold National Landscape and Mendip Hills Management Plans highlight Affordable Housing requirements to meet the needs of local rural communities within the National Landscapes.

9.16 It is proposed to take forward the requirement for Affordable Housing on small sites within designated rural landscapes, given national policy on nationally protected landscapes,  as relates to major development and limited opportunities to bring forward Affordable Housing within these sensitive landscapes.

9.17 Options as relates to small sites are set out below.

Policy options for the new Local Plan

Option A
Residential developments on small sites from 5 to 9 dwellings within the Cotswold National Landscape and Mendip Hills National Landscape should provide either on site provision or an appropriate financial contribution towards the provision of affordable housing with commuted sum calculations. The target level of affordable housing for these small sites will be viability tested through the Local Plan viability assessment to support the Draft Local Plan.

Advantages of Option A

Delivery of affordable housing to meet the needs of local rural communities within the National Landscapes.

Disadvantages of Option A

Would need to consider tenure mix and management of small numbers of affordable housing units.

Option B
Residential developments on small sites from 2 to 9 dwellings within the Cotswold National Landscape and Mendip Hills National Landscape should provide either on site provision or an appropriate financial contribution towards the provision of affordable housing with commuted sum calculations. The target level of affordable housing for these small sites will be viability tested through the Local Plan viability assessment to support the Draft Local Plan.

Advantages of Option B

Delivery of affordable housing to meet the needs of local rural communities within the National Landscapes.

Disadvantages of Option B

Would need to consider tenure mix and management of small numbers of affordable housing units.