8.24 The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) shows that there is a net annual affordable housing need in South Somerset of 659 dwellings.

8.25 The preferred approach seeks to maximise the provision of affordable housing across the District in urban and rural locations. Whilst seeking to ensure that this happens the Council accepts that there can be viability issues associated with the delivery of affordable housing on, for example, brownfield sites. In such circumstances financial appraisals and ‘open-book’ negotiations will be required to consider a departure from the target set out below.