Policy H/DC: Dwellings in the countryside

Reuse of buildings in the countryside for residential use 

1. The change of use and adaptation of redundant or disused buildings outside a settlement (shown as Defined

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

Extents on the Policies Map) to residential use will only be permitted where: 

  a. It has been demonstrated through marketing the property for at least 12 months at a realistic price that there is no demand for their development for employment use, or the buildings are unsuitable for employment use; 

  b. The buildings are structurally sound, not makeshift in nature and are of permanent, substantial construction as evidence by a structural survey; 

  c. There will be an enhancement to the immediate setting of the buildings; 

  d. The form, bulk, design, landscaping and materials used in the change of use and adaptation and any associated extensions are sensitive to the character and appearance of the building and locality; and 

  e. There is a safe vehicular site access. 

Replacement dwellings in the countryside 

2. The one-for-one replacement of dwellings within a curtilage, outside a settlement (shown as Defined

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

Extents on the Policies Map), will be permitted where: 

  a. If the replacement dwelling is not on the footprint of the original dwelling, that the original is demolished within a month of the replacement dwelling’s first occupation; 

  b. In considering countryside impact and effect on local character only the removal of existing buildings currently lawfully used for purposes ancillary to the residential use of the original dwelling can be taken into account and they must still be standing at the time of the application; 

  c. The replacement dwelling is in scale and character with the local area; and 

  d. If in the

A statutory designation made for the purposes of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, preventing neighbouring towns from merging into each other, assisting in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment, preserving the setting and special character of historic towns and assisting in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. Specific Green Belt purposes have been set out for Cambridge.

, that the replacement dwelling is not materially larger than the one it replaces. 

3. Caravans and mobile homes are distinct from permanent dwellings since they can be removed. Given the restrictions on development in the countryside the replacement of caravans and mobile homes with permanent dwellings will not be permitted outside a settlement (shown as Defined

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

Extents on the Policies Map). 

Countryside dwellings of exceptional quality 

4. Outside the

A statutory designation made for the purposes of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, preventing neighbouring towns from merging into each other, assisting in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment, preserving the setting and special character of historic towns and assisting in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. Specific Green Belt purposes have been set out for Cambridge.

, and outside a settlement (shown as Defined

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

Extents on the Policies Map), single new bespoke dwellings of exceptional quality will be permitted in the countryside providing all of the following criteria are met: 

  a. The dwelling would reflect the highest standards in architecture, being recognised as truly outstanding or innovative; 

  b. The dwelling would significantly enhance its immediate setting; 

  c. The nature and size of the site, and the design of the dwelling, its landscaping and location on site are sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area and to wider views; and 

  d. That there are no existing dwellings on the site capable of being replaced. 

Extensions to dwellings in the Countryside 

5. Extensions to dwellings outside settlements (shown as Defined

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

Extents on the Policies Map), will be permitted where: 

  a. The development would not create a separate dwelling or be capable of separation from the existing dwelling; 

  b. The existing home is of permanent design and construction; 

  c. The extension is in scale and character with the existing dwelling and would not materially change the impact of the dwelling on its surroundings; 

  d. If in the

A statutory designation made for the purposes of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, preventing neighbouring towns from merging into each other, assisting in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment, preserving the setting and special character of historic towns and assisting in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. Specific Green Belt purposes have been set out for Cambridge.

, the extension would not result in a disproportionate addition to the original dwelling; and 

  e. If the original dwelling is subject to an occupancy condition, it must be demonstrated through an independent review undertaken by an appropriate professional consultant, that the resultant dwelling can be supported by the viability of the site / holding or rural enterprise and that the cost of its occupation would not be unaffordable to workers employed in agriculture, forestry or another business where a rural location is essential. 

Dwellings to support a rural-based enterprise 

6. Proposals for permanent dwellings outside a settlement (shown as Defined

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

Extents on the Policies Map) for full-time workers in agriculture or forestry or in another business where a rural location is essential, will be permitted if the proposal demonstrates that the following criteria are met: 

  a. There is a clear existing functional need for one or more workers to be readily available at most times; 

  b. The enterprise has been established for at least three years and is, and should remain, financially viable as evidenced by an independent review undertaken by an appropriate professional consultant; 

  c. There is no other accommodation within the site / holding or nearby which is currently suitable and available, or could be made available and suitable through conversion and change of use, as evidenced through the provision of a sequential test, proportionate to the scale of the proposal and needs of the enterprise; 

  d. A dwelling or building suitable for conversion to a dwelling within the site / holding has not been sold on the open housing market without an agricultural or other occupancy condition in the last year; and 

  e. The proposed dwelling is no larger than that required to meet the reasonable needs of the enterprise; and 

7. Where criterion 6b cannot be met or it is a new enterprise on a well established site / holding, the development of a temporary dwelling may be permitted for up to three years where all the other criteria in part 6 are met, and there is clear evidence demonstrating: 

  a. A firm intention and ability to develop the enterprise; 

  b. That the enterprise has been planned on a sound financial basis as evidenced by an independent review undertaken by an appropriate professional consultant; and 

  c. That the functional need cannot be fulfilled by another existing building on the site / holding or any existing accommodation. 

8. Where a new dwelling is permitted, this will be the subject of a condition ensuring the occupation will be limited to a person solely or mainly working, or last working in the locality in agriculture, forestry or in another business where a rural location is essential, or a surviving partner of such a person, and to any resident dependents. 

9. The relaxation of an occupancy condition will only be permitted where it can be demonstrated that: 

  a. There is no longer a continued need for the dwelling on the site / holding or for the enterprise, or to house surviving partners and any resident dependents; 

  b. There is no long term need for a dwelling with restricted occupancy to serve need in the locality;

  c. The property has been effectively marketed for a minimum of 12 months at a rate which is comparable to local market value reflecting the existence of the occupancy condition, and it has been demonstrated that the current use on site is no longer viable or necessary; and 

  d. If other buildings are associated with the dwelling, the marketing must include the dwelling being offered for sale independently of the other buildings. 

South Cambridgeshire is a predominantly rural district with an attractive and much valued open environment. The development strategy in this local plan focuses development in sustainable locations, but it is also important to support the rural economy and appropriate residential uses. The policy uses a range of criteria to control development that needs planning permission in a way that supports rural communities, reduces unsustainable living patterns and minimises the carbon impacts of new housing. 

Assessment of the design quality, scale, countryside impact, and effect on local character of the proposed development will be considered against other policies in the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

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For replacement dwellings in the countryside, planning conditions may be used to remove permitted development rights for extensions to these dwellings, both within and outside the

A statutory designation made for the purposes of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, preventing neighbouring towns from merging into each other, assisting in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment, preserving the setting and special character of historic towns and assisting in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. Specific Green Belt purposes have been set out for Cambridge.

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For extensions to dwellings in the countryside, in determining what constitutes ‘a disproportionate addition’, account will be taken of the extent to which the dwelling has been previously extended or could be extended under permitted development rights, and the character of the area. Also, ‘original’ is defined as the size of the dwelling as it was built or as it existed as of 1 July 1948, whichever is the oldest date. 

Where criterion 5b requires an existing home be of permanent design and construction this will be assessed on a similar basis to criterion 1b whereby it should be structurally sound, not makeshift in nature and of permanent, substantial construction. However, a structural survey will not necessarily be required. 

Occasionally the nature of agricultural and other rural enterprises make it essential for someone to live on, or in close proximity to the enterprise. Applications for new dwellings in such circumstances will need to demonstrate that the enterprise or intention to engage in an enterprise is genuine, will be sustained for a reasonable period of time, and that the enterprise needs one or more workers to be readily available at most times. Such dwellings may be exceptionally permitted in open countryside only because of the needs of the enterprise. 

For dwellings to support a rural based enterprise, the Council will require evidence of the viability of proposed enterprises and where future viability is uncertain will resist new permanent dwellings in the countryside.

Where the policy requires evidence in the form of an independent assessment undertaken by an appropriate professional consultant, it is recognised that what is appropriate will vary according to the nature of the evidence required and the nature of the business involved. Appropriateness could be evidenced by professional qualifications / membership, references and relevant experience of having undertaken similar assessments. 

Regarding equestrian based rural enterprises, it should be noted that the security of horses is not considered to be sufficient in itself to justify the provision of a dwelling as site security can be achieved by other methods. 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

  : Homes Topic Paper (2025)

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

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All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.