Part i. of this policy seeks to introduce a sequential test to proposals for specialist care accommodation in countryside locations. This is excessive, and not in accordance with the NPPF or PPG which encourage local authorities to encourage the delivery of such accommodation to meet a growing ageing population, and as such this element of the policy should be removed. It would be beneficial for the Council to consider allocating sites across the district to provide for such accommodation, to be

POLICY HG5 - CARE HOMES AND SPECIALIST ACCOMMODATION The specific mention of care homes and specialist accommodation (9.52-58) is important given the ageing of the population and likely associated rise in the number of elderly people with often-complex health needs.

The Council should fully evidence the need, and design expectations, for the delivery of electric vehicle charging points and the other elements of this policy, and robustly viability test this policy requirement to ensure that it will not cumulatively affect the delivery of affordable housing. It would be useful to understand how the Council has considered the design implications of part f. of this policy alongside Policies HG3 and HG5; how does this fit with the expectation for achieving the