Rural district pioneers village live/work policy

North Somerset district council’s policy H/7 identifies live/work as one of a limited range of types of development that will be allowed in villages outside of the district’s four main towns. The other uses include affordable and retirement housing.

The policy is designed to curb development that will contribute to the creation of dormitory settlements with high levels of out-commuting by encouraging the creation of employment opportunities through live/work schemes.

The new policy will only apply to fresh applications for development and not reserved matters or applications being implemented.

It says that the gross internal floor area of each unit’s workspace should be a minimum of 20 sq m per dwelling including toilet and kitchen provision. In the case of developments of five or more live/work units, including a mix of sizes and shared meeting space, it suggests that there should be an average of 20 sq m per worker. It also says ceilings should have a minimum of 3m high. 

View guide to the new policy.