HOUSING IN DISPERSED RURAL COMMUNITIES
To accommodate the need for housing
in designated dispersed rural communities.
The settlement pattern of the dispersed
rural community is one of single houses or clusters of houses, which
have developed over time in the countryside, close to a church,
school or shop. These facilities are considered by the residents to
be the focal point for their dispersed community.
Each dispersed rural community, which fulfils certain criteria, will
be identified and may be designated in the development plan for the
area. The criteria for designation will include:
- Location outside Countryside
Policy Areas, Green Belts or other areas of development pressure
close to existing towns;
- association with a traditional
focal point, where there is convincing evidence of local community
activity; with the existence of social and recreational facilities,
such as a church, hall, school, community centre or sports club;
- other facilities or services, such
as a shop, public house or
sewage treatment works;
- a strong community identity. This
could manifest itself through a local community association, church
organisation or sports club; and
- a locally significant number of
dwellings that have been built over time. Although these places are
not nucleated settlements, they will have to be more than just open
countryside. A build-up or cluster of recently built houses will
normally not be considered as fulfilling this criterion.
The method of determining the
acceptability of development sites will depend on local
circumstances. A limit of development will not necessarily be drawn
round the existing dispersed settlement pattern, as this may be an
unnecessary obstacle to promoting the regeneration of the community
and gives no indication of the availability of housing or other
sites.
In an effort to help sustain these particular rural communities, the
Planning Service will approve suitable proposals for single houses
or small groups of houses, associated with the existing settlement
pattern.
The determining factors, on any application for housing development
in dispersed communities, will be the number of dwellings proposed,
the visual impact of the development, and its association or
integration with the existing settlement pattern. Other service
considerations such as access, method of sewage disposal, and
drainage may on occasions be critical.
Planning permission will normally be limited to proposals for groups
of 5 or 6 houses. Developments should reflect the evolution of these
communities over time and maintain local rural character. Each
proposal will however depend on local circumstances and planning
decisions will be made locally having regard to the policies in the
development plan. |