Planning Exceptions in Rural England: Past, Present and Future

This article explores the context and operation of 'rural planning exceptions' as one means of delivering affordable housing in the English countryside. It charts the history of this strategy, drawing on past research, before considering both the current 'health' of this initiative and its future value as one part of a wider drive to increase the numbers of affordable housing units procured under the direction of local planning authorities (LPAs). The article is primarily concerned with key obstacles, and considers whether these have been overcome, or at least ameliorated, during the life of the initiative. It also examiners whether the policy should be overhauled, and perhaps taken forward within the context of more radical amendments to the UK's Use Classes Order. Late in 1999, the Cabinet Office published its comprehensive report into the future of the English countryside (Cabinet Office, 1999). Within that report, it was suggested that government might be willing to look again at stronger planning powers for dealing with the issue of affordable housing supply, perhaps examining "...whether development plans should specifically select areas which are only for social and affordable housing" (para. 10.70). The final aim of this article is to consider how such an approach might be meshed with the current exceptions policy.