WIREDGOV

The proposals aim to address the issues of providing homes for retiring farmers and for family members working on farms who have difficulty finding affordable housing.

The overall aim is to provide changes to the planning system that would make communities throughout Wales more sustainable.

A number of innovative proposals on sustaining rural communities are outlined in the consultation document to:

• Allow new-build housing for people working in legitimate rural businesses, farmers who are retiring and family members working on the farm.
• All new housing developments will have to contribute towards the provision of affordable homes.
• Enable local planning authorities to develop policies for low impact development schemes, where people live and work on the land and are self-sustaining in food, energy and waste.

Ms Davidson said:

Providing affordable homes for people who live and work in rural areas is a major commitment of the Assembly Government’s One Wales document.

I am determined to provide the support, through our planning guidelines, to help build living, sustainable communities.

One of the ways of developing rural communities for the 21st century is to extend the Technical Advice Note (TAN) 6 definition of rural worker when considering essential dwellings.

We need to expand this beyond the current description which covers agricultural or forestry workers.

There are other people earning a living from rural businesses who are helping maintain thriving, living communities that we want to see grow. This consultation marks a major step forward in tackling this issue.

I believe that this consultation could help new entrants into farming, assist economic development and regeneration in rural areas and increase the supply of affordable rural housing.

This will benefit our rural communities.

It also addresses the land use planning recommendation of both the recent Joseph Rowntree Foundation report into rural housing and the Sue Essex Report into affordable housing in Wales.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said:

I will shortly be announcing a consultation on New Entrants to farming and today's proposals on rural housing will have a positive impact on young people who want to stay and work in rural areas. These proposals are good news for the future of our rural communities.

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/planning/?lang=en

http://new.wales.gov.uk/consultations/currentconsultation/plancurrcons/ruralhousingconsult/?lang=en