A sense of legitimacy in low-impact developments: experiences and perspectives of communities in South-West England

Figures & data

Table 1. Description of case studies and individual interviewees.

LID case study	Description of LID	Planning permission status
Case study one	A rural, off grid community in South West England, made up of 12 homes built largely with timber that is felled and processed on site. Addition of a common house building, constructed using traditional cob construction methods, which is equipped with shared kitchen and communal facilities. The community use traditional agricultural practices to produce the majority of their food as well as produce to sell at local shops/markets.	Temporary (10 year) planning permission achieved retrospectively. Intention to apply for full permission in coming years. Temporary permission for 12 dwellings, without foundations, built of natural materials.
Case study two	A rural, off grid community in South West England, comprising 17 homes built from timber and recycled materials. Each home has a self-contained kitchen and bathroom. There is some shared outdoor spaces. Whilst community members do some individual and communal maintenance of buildings and woodland the majority of residents have paid employment outside of the community.	Full planning permission was achieved retrospectively over 20 years ago for 17 low-impact individual dwellings. Planning was given without any restrictive ties.
Case study three	A low-impact co-operative in South West England with 15 permanent residents and a number of additional volunteers who live on site. The community consists of a large house and outbuildings, shared by the residents. The community is connected to some services such a water and produces the majority of its electricity. A number of residents work mainly within the community whilst others are employed outside of the community.	This community occupies a large Victorian property and outbuildings purchased by the co-operative in the 1980s. As well as a number of additional low-impact dwellings.
Case study four	A small off grid community in South West England comprising three people living in a cob house and mobile caravan. The community is an agricultural business as well as mainly living from crop yields and livestock.	Planning permission was granted over a decade ago to erect a low-impact strawbale house that can easily be removed. The dwelling has an agricultural tie as well as being tied specifically to the landowner. Additional members of the community live in a mobile caravan and work within the community. No formal permission has been obtained for the addition of a caravan and the residents are aware that they could be evicted at any time.
Case study five	An off grid community in South West England, practicing permaculture principles. The community hosts workshops and events and has permission for a number of additional low-impact dwelling which provide accommodation for visitors and volunteers	Full planning permission, achieved retrospectively over a decade ago, to convert four existing buildings and to erect a permanent low-impact dwellings. Permission was also granted for worker/visitor accommodation comprising caravans and yurts.
Interviewee one	Planning consultant
Interviewee two	Planning consultant
Interviewee three	Campaigner for LID-ers/gypsies and travellers

Image 1. A self-build round house at one of the LID communities visited during this research.

Image 2. A self-build home at one of the LID communities visited during this research.