Whilst considering how settlements could grow, LVA encourage the Council to also consider modern concepts of development outside of settlement boundaries. It needs to provide policies that are open-minded to different types of development at villages and within the rural areas beyond the usual market and affordable housing sites. Flexible live-work units should be strongly encouraged to cater for the many more people who are working from home. LVA urge the Council to broaden existing policies to incorporate concepts such as:

▪ Co-housing - There are key benefits to this type of development that are currently largely disregarded in planning policy. The concept permits families and communities to live together within their own spaces in diverse, multi-generational neighbourhoods. It results in a prosperous community approach to living, a reduced need for social care provision, improvements to the health and wellbeing of residents, especially among the elderly and vulnerable and many more benefits.

▪ Self-Build - Self-build sites that provide serviced plots offer people the highly attractive opportunity to build their own home to suit their own needs and lifestyles. The introduction of a policy which accepts that self-build led schemes to proportionate level will be permitted at all settlements (inside and outside settlement boundaries) where such need is evidenced would be welcomed. This would add to the richness of design and variety.

Additional, exceptional growth outside of any development boundaries should be supported where products serving specific needs and communities are provided, such as (but not limited to) first-time buyer housing, live/work units, age-restricted rural-style living sites (care homes, park home sites etc.), co-housing sites, self-build sites, special care sites etc.