‘Exception sites’ offer speculation potential
June 2011
‘Exception sites’ are sites which cannot usually obtain planning permission, as they are outside the development envelope, but might gain permission for affordable housing for local people as an ‘exception’ to established local policy.
They are normally quite small. A typical site might have space for between 12 and 20 houses.
With the pressure on to find new land which is suitable for development, particularly for low cost housing, we has been seeking to take the initiative, as Associate Nick Muncey explains.
“It is a relatively straightforward process, albeit one that requires a good deal of preliminary work and a good deal of patience, not to mention negotiating skills,” he says.
“Januarys will attempt to identify villages that lack sufficient affordable housing and will seek to find sites that are suitable for development in principle, but which are outside the development envelope.
“From there, we will work up a proposal with a local firm of Architects which we will then submit to a Housing Association.
“If they express an interest, we will then approach the landowner.”