9.53 National Planning Policy Guidance seeks to deliver a wide choice of homes and widen opportunities for ownership to create sustainable, inclusive and mixed communities[1]. The replacement of small country dwellings with more grandiose houses can radically change the character of a site to one of a more suburban nature and also reduce the supply of the smaller rural dwellings. To help protect the character of South Somerset's countryside, extensions and replacements of dwellings need to be controlled in terms of scale and design. The erection of replacement dwellings and extensions to existing houses can individually, and cumulatively over a period of years, have an adverse impact both on the character of individual properties and the surrounding countryside.

9.54 The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) has identified that the greatest difference in the District between supply and demand for housing, is for smaller 1 and 2 bedroom properties. This policy aims to give protection to traditional smaller properties in the countryside, therefore helping to meet the objective of providing appropriate housing for the needs of the population.

9.55 In determining what constitutes "disproportionate scale", account will be taken of the extent to which the dwelling has been previously extended, or could be extended under Permitted Development rights[2] and the character of the area. For the purposes of this policy 'original' is defined as the dwelling as it was built or as it existed as of the 1st July 1948.

9.56 The following delivery bodies will be key in implementing Policy HG8:

• South Somerset District Council;
• Developers and Landowners;