Affordable housing policies and guidance

The type and affordability of Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is relevant to all types of residential development, providing detailed guidance to assist in implementing several core strategy policies. The SPD helps to provide a mix of good quality, sustainable housing development of the right size, type, tenure and affordability to meet the housing requirements of all sections of the community.

On open market sites

All new market housing developments are required to make a contribution towards the provision of affordable housing in accordance with Core Strategy Policy CS11. However, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that this is now dependent on the development size, the site area and the sites location. Depending on which Shropshire Council prevailing target rate is applicable, the contribution could be a financial contribution and/or an onsite provision. Affordable homes on open market sites are funded by the developer and sold to a registered provider at a reduced cost.

Please see our open market sites page to obtain details on thresholds and target rates.

Exception sites

These are sites that are an 'exception' to the planning rule, as they are built outside a village's development boundary, but are only for local needs affordable housing, where there is an identified need. Because market housing is not allowed on the site, the land value is low (typically £10k/plot). Exception sites are usually developed by housing associations (registered providers) for a mix of affordable rented and low- cost home ownership homes in line with an identified local housing need. These sites are covered by a Section 106 legal agreement.

Exception sites can also be developed by community led groups, in partnership with housing associations. This empowers communities of all shapes and sizes to commission their own homes to meet local needs. We recognise that this is an ambition for some communities to secure delivery of the homes that local people want and need in order to make their places more sustainable and resilient.

More information on exception sites can be found in the Supplementary Planning Document.

As these are for local need a local connection criteria will be attached to the site.

Designated rural areas

On 19 May 2016 the Housing (Right to Buy) (Designated Rural Areas and designated regions) (England) Order 2016/587 was laid before parliament and came into force on 20 June. This included 107 parishes that had been submitted by Shropshire Council for consideration in an application to government made on 13 November 2013. The parishes affected are listed below and in these parishes Shropshire Council will apply a lower threshold for affordable housing contributions as they do for sites located in the National Landscapes .

Housing (Right to Buy) (Designated Rural Areas and Designated Regions) (England) Order 2016/587

Schedule 1 Designation of rural areas (In addition to those in the National Landscapes, which already benefit from rural designation status). This version in force from: June 20, 2016

In the area of the council of the county of Shropshire, the parishes of Acton Burnell, Acton Round, Adderley, Alderbury with Cardeston, Alveley, Ashford Bowdler, Ashford Carbonel, Astley Abbotts, Astley, Aston Eyre, Atcham, Badger, Barrow, Baschurch, Beckbury, Berrington, Bicton, Billingsley, Boningale, Boraston, Boscobel, Burford, Chelmarsh, Cheswardine, Chetton, Child's Ercall, Claverley, Cleobury Mortimer, Clive, Cockshutt, Condover, Cound, Deuxhill, Donington, Eardington, Ellesmere Rural, Ford, Glazeley, Gobowen, Selattyn and Weston Rhyn, Great Hanwood, Great Ness, Greete, Grinshill, Hadnall, Hinstock, Hodnet, Hordley, Ightfield, Kemberton, Kinlet, Kinnerley, Knockin, Little Ness, Llanyblodwel, Llanymynech and Pant, Loppington, Ludford, Melverley, Middleton Scriven, Milson, Montford, Moreton Corbet and Lee Brockburst, Moreton Say, Morville, Myddle and Broughton, Neen Savage, Neen Sollars, Neenton, Norton in Hales, Oswestry Rural, Petton, Pimhill, Pitchford, Prees, Quatt Malvern, Richard's Castle, Romsley, Rudge, Ruyton-XI-Towns, Ryton, Shawbury, Sheriffhales, Sidbury, St. Martins, Stanton upon Hine Heath, Stockton, Stoke upon Tern, Stottesdon, Sutton Maddock, Sutton upon Tern, Tasley, Tong, Uffington, Upton Cressett, Upton Magna, Welshampton and Lyneal, Wem Rural, West Felton, Westbury, Weston Rhyn, Weston-under-Redcastle, Whitchurch Rural, Whittington, Whixall, Withington, Woore and Worfield.

Wider planning policies

If you would like to see how the affordable housing policies link in with Shropshire Councils wider policies, then take a look at our core strategy and local planning pages.