NPF4 policy 17 Rural Homes
Argyll and Bute Council · 7 September 2026
Back to Argyll and Bute Local Review Body — 7 September 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Part 2 – National Planning Policy National Planning Framework 4 65 Rural homes Policy Principles Policy Intent: To encourage, promote and facilitate the delivery of more high quality, affordable and sustainable rural homes in the right locations. Policy Outcomes: • Improved choice of homes across tenures so that identified local needs of people and communities in rural and island areas are met. • Homes are provided that support sustainable rural communities and are linked with service provision. • The distinctive character, sense of place and natural and cultural assets of rural areas are safeguarded and enhanced. Local Development Plans: LDPs should be informed by an understanding of population change over time, locally specific needs and market circumstances in rural and island areas. LDPs should set out tailored approaches to rural housing and where relevant include proposals for future population growth – including provision for small-scale housing such as crofts and woodland crofts and the appropriate resettlement of previously inhabited areas. The Scottish Government’s 6 fold Urban Rural Classification 2020 should be used to identify remote rural areas. Plans should reflect locally appropriate delivery approaches. Previously inhabited areas that are suitable for resettlement should be identified in the spatial strategy. Policy 17 a) Development proposals for new homes in rural areas will be supported where the development is suitably scaled, sited and designed to be in keeping with the character of the area and the development: i. is on a site allocated for housing within the LDP; ii. reuses brownfield land where a return to a natural state has not or will not happen without intervention; iii. reuses a redundant or unused building; iv. is an appropriate use of a historic environment asset or is appropriate enabling development to secure the future of historic environment assets; v. is demonstrated to be necessary to support the sustainable management of a viable rural business or croft, and there is an essential need for a worker (including those taking majority control of a farm business) to live permanently at or near their place of work; vi. is for a single home for the retirement succession of a viable farm holding; vii. is for the subdivision of an existing residential dwelling; the scale of which is in keeping with the character and infrastructure provision in the area; or viii. reinstates a former dwelling house or is a one-for-one replacement of an existing permanent house. b) Development proposals for new homes in rural areas will consider how the development will contribute towards local living and take into account identified local housing needs (including affordable housing), economic considerations and the transport needs of the development as appropriate for the rural location. c) Development proposals for new homes in remote rural areas will be supported where the proposal: i. supports and sustains existing fragile communities; ii. supports identified local housing outcomes; and
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Part 2 – National Planning Policy National Planning Framework 4 66 iii. is suitable in terms of location, access, and environmental impact. d) Development proposals for new homes that support the resettlement of previously inhabited areas will be supported where the proposal: i. is in an area identified in the LDP as suitable for resettlement; ii. is designed to a high standard; iii. responds to its rural location; and iv. is designed to minimise greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible. Policy impact: ` Just Transition ` Conserving and recycling assets ` Local living ` Compact urban growth ` Rebalanced development ` Rural revitalisation Key policy connections: Tackling the climate and nature crises Climate mitigation and adaptation Natural places Historic assets and places Green belts Brownfield, vacant and derelict land and empty buildings Coastal development Sustainable transport Design, quality and place Local Living and 20 minute neighbourhoods Infrastructure first Quality homes City, town, local and commercial centres Rural development Tourism