Exception Sites Parish Review Group

The first meeting took place on Monday 18 January 2010. The meeting provided the opportunity for participants to examine the workings of our exception sites policy, to highlight issues they consider South Cambridgeshire District Council should address before the SPD is adopted and to comment on how to maximise delivery of exception sites.

What is the Exception Sites Parish Review Group?

The Exception Sites Parish Review Group was set up in response to one of the Corporate Actions of South Cambridgeshire District Council. This group comprises a forum of Parish Councils, Housing Associations and key Council personnel to examine the workings of our exception sites policy in light of recent experience and current market conditions.

This group will act as a Task & Finish Group to scrutinise the workings of our exception sites policy as contained in the adopted Development Control Policies Development Plan Document (Policy HG/5). This is an opportunity for Parishes to comment on and to help us maximise delivery of exception sites.

SCDC has just consulted on its draft Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (consultation ended on Friday 4 December 2009), which includes guidance on the implementation of the exception sites policy. Whilst feedback during consultation was only received from a small number of Parish Councils, the meeting on 18 January 2010 provided an opportunity for participants to highlight any particular issues they consider the District Council should address before the SPD, together with representations received during the consultation and any changes made as a result of them, is put to the Planning and New Communities Joint Portfolio Holders' Meeting in March 2010 for adoption.

Download presentations:

Draft Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document
Caroline Hunt, Local Development Framework Team Leader at SCDC, presented.

Affordable Rural Housing in Cambridgeshire
Catherine Shilton, Rural Housing Enabler at Cambridgeshire ACRE, presented.

Affordable Homes for Local People
Schuyler Newstead, Housing Development & Enabling Manager at SCDC, presented.

Since April 2004 SCDC has built 272 new affordable homes on rural exception sites in partnership with Registered Social Landlords. This equates to 65% of what was built in the Sub-Region and and 26% regionally. We are currently on site in four villages which will provide 55 additional rural exception site units and have planning permission for a further 14 units. Our detailed work involves liaising with Parish Council, local members, registered social landlords, Cambs ACRE and colleagues in planning (development control) to address the local housing needs of villages.

As this is a review group, meetings will only be held during 2010.

If you have any queries about the Exception Sites Parish Review Meeting, or would like to submit your feedback, please email cerise.bradford@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window) or complete our online feedback questionnaire.