Please read these options together with the policy for rural exception sites
Option A
Continue to state that a small proportion of market housing will be appropriate only where it can be demonstrated that the market housing is essential to cross-subsidise the affordable housing and that the site would be unviable without this cross-subsidy.
Advantages
- Reflects national policy and is flexible.
Disadvantages
- Current policy provides limited clarity on the level of market housing appropriate in cross-subsidising delivery of affordable housing.
Option B
As Option A, but adding the following details:
- Maximum of 40% market housing to meet local needs (including downsizing)
- ...the site would be unviable or undeliverable without this cross-subsidy, taking into account the availability of public subsidy.
Advantages
- Provides clarity on policy.
- Market housing will only be permitted where it is robustly demonstrated it is needed to subsidise the provision of affordable housing.
Disadvantages
- Developments could look to maximise market housing on site.