9.16 Meeting the housing needs of the district and tackling homelessness are key objectives in South Somerset District's Sustainable Community Strategy[1]. "Focus Three: Homes, of the Council Plan"[2] aims to minimise homelessness, enable additional homes to meet the needs of the district and identify a temporary stopping point for Gypsies and Travellers.

9.17 The definition of affordable housing can be found in National Planning Policy Guidance[3] and includes social rented housing, affordable rented housing and intermediate housing.

9.18 The Taunton and South Somerset Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2009 (SHMA), provides key evidence for developing the approach to affordable housing policy in the Local Plan. The SHMA estimated that there is a net annual affordable housing need in South Somerset for 659 dwellings and particularly for 1 and 2 bedroom properties. The SHMA is supported by viability evidence in the form of the Strategic Housing Land Viability Assessment (2009) and Annex (2010) (SHLVA)[4].

9.19 The Local Plan 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.