A new practical step-by-step guide has been launched to help landowners navigate the process of delivering affordable housing on rural exception sites for the benefit of their community and their business.

The guide has been produced jointly by Strutt & Parker and Rural Housing Solutions which work with landowners and develop rural affordable housing on rural exception sites. These are small plots of land which would not be considered appropriate for open market housing but can be developed to provide affordable homes that meet the needs of local residents.

Dr Jason Beedell, head of rural research at Strutt & Parker, said: “Rural exception sites are being underused as a way of addressing the lack of affordable housing in rural areas with one of the barriers being that the process can seem complicated to anyone who is not familiar with it.”

Official government figures show that in 2015/16 only 3,696 affordable homes were built in villages with a population under 3,000 people and, of these, just 1,020 were on rural exception sites. However, it is estimated that around 7,500 homes a year are needed in these smaller communities.

Jo Lavis, director of Rural Housing Solutions, said: “The aim of the guide is to demystify the process, providing landowners with clear guidance on their options and what is involved, so they can be assured that a scheme progresses smoothly and results in high-quality affordable homes that they can be proud of.”

“They can provide homes for young people and older residents. People who have been brought up in the area, have family in the village and might work in local businesses, including agriculture and related jobs.

The easy-to-access online guide provides advice for each stage of developing a rural affordable housing scheme on a rural exception site. It explains the four principal options available:

• Build and manage the homes personally, maybe buying in the services of a housing association to manage the homes

• Enter a joint venture arrangement with a housing association or formally constituted community housing group

• Long-lease (125 years) the land to a housing association or formally constituted community housing group

• Outright sale of the land to a housing association or formally constituted community housing group

The guide explores the pros and cons of the different options and explains how to go about finding a housing association or community housing organisation to partner with.

For a copy visit struttandparker.com/rural-housing