Landowners wanted for affordable housing scheme

Farmers and landowners in East Devon have been approached by the local council to help ease the shortage of affordable rural housing in the area.

East Devon District Council is looking for small parcels of land on greenfield sites for building clusters of up to 15 new homes and is giving people the chance to discuss potential developments with housing and planning officers this summer.

One-third of the new homes will have to be sold on the open market and the other two-thirds will be affordable housing, it says. There are also a range of other conditions that have to be satisfied before a site will be considered, including:

• The new development should make best use of the land and complement any existing development

• The scheme should be near a village or settlement with a built-up area boundary and/or a primary school

• A local housing needs assessment must show a need for affordable housing

• At least 66% of the homes should be affordable in perpetuity and half of these would be social rented

• Affordable homes must be completed before any market homes are occupied

• The development should not be more than 15 dwellings

The offer is open throughout the summer and autumn of 2010 and anyone interested should contact EDDC’s Housing Enabling Officer, Paul Lowe, on 01395 516 551, extension 2379.