West Dorset’s MP, Chris Loder, has welcomed affordable housing policies for rural areas outlined in the Government’s latest Rural Proofing report. Policies include the Rural Exception Sites policy, to allow small-scale housing sites in rural areas not normally permitted for development; and £2.5 million of funding to support a national network of Rural Housing Enablers to boost the supply of new and affordable rural housing.
Mr Loder, who has actively campaigned for affordable housing in rural West Dorset, welcomed the policies. He said:
“Community-led, small-scale housing development is vital to ensure modest and affordable properties are available for residents. The Rural Exception Sites policy included in the National Planning Policy Framework enables development on sites that are typically located on the edge of rural settlements. Funding from DEFRA as part of the Rural Housing Enablers policy will in turn help to deliver more Rural Exception Sites. I look forward to welcoming the benefits for us here in West Dorset, which is already home to some of the most active community-led housing projects in the country.”
