An evaluation of rural housing policies

Abstract

Peculiarities in the rural housing market have been associated with the operation of rural planning policies. Research into the issue has been hampered by a dearth of information, especially at the local level and this has affected investigations. This thesis has provided some detailed information on the workings of “local needs" planning policies in a rural county and considered, firstly, the way in which strategic policies differ in similar areas and secondly, how they are interpreted at the local level. A detailed case study of planning applications for dwellings involving claims of “local need", examined the issues raised in one district. Consideration was also given to a definition of local needs and a discussion of "affordable" housing issues in the context of the study. Development control records covering a ten year period were examined in order to select suitable cases for closer scrutiny. Research into more than 1,000 planning application files utilised access to privileged information and investigated the types of local need claimed, the source of the need, Parish council, Borough council and planning office recommendation and the policy implications of the planning decisions made. A follow up survey of houses constructed outside settlements as a result of such applications, considered the current occupier's status in relation to his claim to a specific "local need". The results have highlighted the need for a unified approach to policy formulation and application, revealing wide variations in the treatment of local needs issues between districts, coupled with an inconsistent understanding of the term. An approach to the definition of local needs is considered and potential solutions discussed.