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Affordable Rural Housing

We work with Surrey’s rural communities to support affordable housing development for local people. We carry out research into local housing need and ensure the opinions of local communities are heard and represented. Working independently, as an honest broker we endeavour to support small rural housing developments, in particular championing the potential of Rural Exception Sites, by bringing Parish Councils, Local Authorities, landowners, developers and Registered Providers together to work to provide homes that rural parishes need.

See below for information on rural housing and our services.

We are supported by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). We work in partnership with and are supported by Tandridge District Council, Mole Valley District Council, Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council.

Contact Us
If you would like to discuss with us how we might work together to deliver local, affordable homes in your community please contact Nicola Davidson or David Cowan, Rural Housing Enablers for Surrey. Email [email protected] or [email protected] , Tel. 01483 447121.

Surrey Rural Housing Statement

Information on Rural Housing

Our Services

  • Conduct independent housing needs surveys to evidence and understand local need for housing  
  • Work with Parish Councillors to explore how best to meet identified need 
  • Liaise with landowners, residents, Councillors, Registered Providers, the Local Council and developers to identify possible Rural Exception Sites and/or other potential viable small sites 
  • Facilitate community consultations 
  • Act as an honest broker between all parties, ensuring the voice of the community is heard. 
  • Work to support a project from start to completion  
  • Create Parish Profiles  
  • Provide quarterly newsletters and facilitate webinars on rural housing 

The Potential of Rural Exception Sites

“Rural Exception Sites are small sites located on the edge of existing rural settlements. They allow land to be provided below market value for residential development – provided it is used to build affordable housing for local people.” 

National Housing Federation 

Housing developments on Rural Exception Sites are small in nature (usually under 15 homes) and housing development on these sites needs to meet high standards of design, landscaping and biodiversity. 

Affordable rural housing is often achieved by developing a “Rural Exception Site”. Typically, planning policies will not allow new rural housing on undeveloped land which is not within the boundary of a settlement. But, where there is clear evidence of a community’s affordable housing need, planning permission may be granted for a Rural Exception Site. All districts and boroughs will have their own specific policies in their Local Plans but, generally, these sites need to be: 

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