Housing Allocation Policy

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We want your views

Wealden District Council is reviewing its Housing Allocation Policy, which sets out how social and affordable housing is allocated across the district.

We are consulting on two proposed changes to the current policy:

1. Introducing a hybrid housing allocation system.

2. Replacing parish-based local connection rules with a new cluster-based approach.

These proposals have been developed following a review of the current Housing Allocation Policy and discussions with parish councils and other stakeholders. They reflect changes in housing need and the availability of affordable housing across the district.

We want to hear from residents, housing register applicants, housing providers, town and parish councils, and anyone with an interest in local housing.

Please complete the survey below and tell us what you think about the proposed changes by Sunday 13th December 2026. You can take part whether or not you have applied for housing. Please read the information about each proposal before answering.

All responses will be analysed and considered before recommendations are made. Your answers are voluntary and will help shape the final Housing Allocation Policy recommended to Cabinet next year.

Why are we reviewing the policy?

Demand for affordable housing continues to exceed supply. We are reviewing the Housing Allocation Policy to ensure homes are allocated as fairly and efficiently as possible while continuing to support local communities.

Since the current policy was introduced, the number of affordable homes available across Wealden's rural communities has increased through new housing developments. As a result, we are reviewing whether existing local connection arrangements continue to provide the best balance between supporting local communities and widening housing opportunities for applicants across the district.

We are also reviewing how homes are allocated to ensure households with the most urgent housing needs can access suitable accommodation more quickly.

The review proposes changes that aim to:

  • Help households in the greatest housing need move more quickly into suitable accommodation.
  • Reduce the time households spend in temporary accommodation.
  • Make better use of the limited supply of affordable housing.
  • Widen housing opportunities for applicants with local connections.

Proposal 1: Hybrid Housing Allocation System

How the current system works

Currently, applicants on the housing register bid for available properties advertised fortnightly through the Homemove Choice Based Lettings scheme.

Applicants are placed into one of four housing need bands, ranging from Band A (highest priority) to Band D (lowest priority).

Applicants can only bid on properties that match their assessed housing need, such as bedroom size, retirement living or disability adaption. Accommodation located in rural parishes is usually restricted to bidders living in the same or neighbouring parish. Applicants living in neighbouring towns are not entitled to bid for parish properties.

What is changing?

We are proposing to introduce a hybrid allocation system.

Under the proposal:

  • Households in the highest priority band (Band A), including many living in temporary accommodation, would be matched directly to suitable properties by the Council. Direct matching means the Council will identify a suitable property for eligible Band A households rather than requiring them to bid through Homemove.
  • Applicants in Bands B, C and D would continue to bid for properties through Homemove Choice Based Lettings.

Temporary accommodation is often expensive and can be unsuitable for long-term living. The proposed changes aim to help households with the most urgent housing needs move into settled accommodation more quickly.

Proposal 2: Cluster Local Connection Policy

How the current system works

Currently, some affordable housing in rural parishes is reserved for applicants with a local connection to that parish or a neighbouring parish.

The Parish Local Lettings Policy was introduced to help ensure affordable housing developed in rural areas remained available to people with strong local connections. Since then, the supply of affordable housing across many rural communities has increased.

As a result, the Council is reviewing whether a wider local connection area could provide greater housing opportunities while continuing to support local communities.

What is changing?

The proposal is to replace the current Parish Local Lettings Policy with a Cluster Local Connection Policy. The aim is to increase housing opportunities while maintaining support for local communities.

Under the new proposal:

  • The Wealden district would be divided into four geographical clusters. A cluster is a group of neighbouring parishes. A map showing the proposed clusters is available below.
  • Applicants could bid for affordable housing across all parishes within their cluster.
  • Local connections would still be recognised, but across a wider geographical area.

A cluster is a group of neighbouring parishes brought together into a larger geographical area for housing allocation purposes. The four proposed cluster areas are as follows.

Cluster 1 = East Dean and Friston, Cuckmere Valley, Willingdon & Jevington, Polegate, Long Man, Berwick, Selmeston, Alciston, Westham, Pevensey, Wartling, Hooe, Ninfield, Arlington and Alfriston

Cluster 2 = Hailsham, Hellingly, Herstmonceux, Chiddingly, Chalvington with Ripe, Laughton, East Hoathly, Horam, Heathfield and Waldron and Warbleton

Cluster 3 = Rotherfield, Frant, Crowborough, Wadhurst, Mayfield and Five Ashes, Forest Row, Hartfield, Withyham and Danehill

Cluster 4 = Uckfield, Framfield, Maresfield, Buxted, Hadlow Down, Isfield, Little Horsted and Fletching.

How these proposals were developed

The proposed changes have been developed through:

  • Review of the current Housing Allocation Policy.
  • Assessment of housing demand and housing need.
  • Consideration of the increasing supply of affordable housing in rural communities.
  • Discussions with parish councils and local representatives undertaken during pre-consultation engagement.

We are now seeking wider feedback before any final decisions are made.

The following aspects of the Housing Allocation Policy are not proposed to change:

  • The Housing need banding system (Bands A-D)
  • Eligibility rules
  • Assessment of housing need
  • Bedroom entitlement rules

We want your views

Wealden District Council is reviewing its Housing Allocation Policy, which sets out how social and affordable housing is allocated across the district.

We are consulting on two proposed changes to the current policy:

1. Introducing a hybrid housing allocation system.

2. Replacing parish-based local connection rules with a new cluster-based approach.

These proposals have been developed following a review of the current Housing Allocation Policy and discussions with parish councils and other stakeholders. They reflect changes in housing need and the availability of affordable housing across the district.

We want to hear from residents, housing register applicants, housing providers, town and parish councils, and anyone with an interest in local housing.

Please complete the survey below and tell us what you think about the proposed changes by Sunday 13th December 2026. You can take part whether or not you have applied for housing. Please read the information about each proposal before answering.

All responses will be analysed and considered before recommendations are made. Your answers are voluntary and will help shape the final Housing Allocation Policy recommended to Cabinet next year.

Why are we reviewing the policy?

Demand for affordable housing continues to exceed supply. We are reviewing the Housing Allocation Policy to ensure homes are allocated as fairly and efficiently as possible while continuing to support local communities.

Since the current policy was introduced, the number of affordable homes available across Wealden's rural communities has increased through new housing developments. As a result, we are reviewing whether existing local connection arrangements continue to provide the best balance between supporting local communities and widening housing opportunities for applicants across the district.

We are also reviewing how homes are allocated to ensure households with the most urgent housing needs can access suitable accommodation more quickly.

The review proposes changes that aim to:

  • Help households in the greatest housing need move more quickly into suitable accommodation.
  • Reduce the time households spend in temporary accommodation.
  • Make better use of the limited supply of affordable housing.
  • Widen housing opportunities for applicants with local connections.

Proposal 1: Hybrid Housing Allocation System

How the current system works

Currently, applicants on the housing register bid for available properties advertised fortnightly through the Homemove Choice Based Lettings scheme.

Applicants are placed into one of four housing need bands, ranging from Band A (highest priority) to Band D (lowest priority).

Applicants can only bid on properties that match their assessed housing need, such as bedroom size, retirement living or disability adaption. Accommodation located in rural parishes is usually restricted to bidders living in the same or neighbouring parish. Applicants living in neighbouring towns are not entitled to bid for parish properties.

What is changing?

We are proposing to introduce a hybrid allocation system.

Under the proposal:

  • Households in the highest priority band (Band A), including many living in temporary accommodation, would be matched directly to suitable properties by the Council. Direct matching means the Council will identify a suitable property for eligible Band A households rather than requiring them to bid through Homemove.
  • Applicants in Bands B, C and D would continue to bid for properties through Homemove Choice Based Lettings.

Temporary accommodation is often expensive and can be unsuitable for long-term living. The proposed changes aim to help households with the most urgent housing needs move into settled accommodation more quickly.

Proposal 2: Cluster Local Connection Policy

How the current system works

Currently, some affordable housing in rural parishes is reserved for applicants with a local connection to that parish or a neighbouring parish.

The Parish Local Lettings Policy was introduced to help ensure affordable housing developed in rural areas remained available to people with strong local connections. Since then, the supply of affordable housing across many rural communities has increased.

As a result, the Council is reviewing whether a wider local connection area could provide greater housing opportunities while continuing to support local communities.

What is changing?

The proposal is to replace the current Parish Local Lettings Policy with a Cluster Local Connection Policy. The aim is to increase housing opportunities while maintaining support for local communities.

Under the new proposal:

  • The Wealden district would be divided into four geographical clusters. A cluster is a group of neighbouring parishes. A map showing the proposed clusters is available below.
  • Applicants could bid for affordable housing across all parishes within their cluster.
  • Local connections would still be recognised, but across a wider geographical area.

A cluster is a group of neighbouring parishes brought together into a larger geographical area for housing allocation purposes. The four proposed cluster areas are as follows.

Cluster 1 = East Dean and Friston, Cuckmere Valley, Willingdon & Jevington, Polegate, Long Man, Berwick, Selmeston, Alciston, Westham, Pevensey, Wartling, Hooe, Ninfield, Arlington and Alfriston

Cluster 2 = Hailsham, Hellingly, Herstmonceux, Chiddingly, Chalvington with Ripe, Laughton, East Hoathly, Horam, Heathfield and Waldron and Warbleton

Cluster 3 = Rotherfield, Frant, Crowborough, Wadhurst, Mayfield and Five Ashes, Forest Row, Hartfield, Withyham and Danehill

Cluster 4 = Uckfield, Framfield, Maresfield, Buxted, Hadlow Down, Isfield, Little Horsted and Fletching.

How these proposals were developed

The proposed changes have been developed through:

  • Review of the current Housing Allocation Policy.
  • Assessment of housing demand and housing need.
  • Consideration of the increasing supply of affordable housing in rural communities.
  • Discussions with parish councils and local representatives undertaken during pre-consultation engagement.

We are now seeking wider feedback before any final decisions are made.

The following aspects of the Housing Allocation Policy are not proposed to change:

  • The Housing need banding system (Bands A-D)
  • Eligibility rules
  • Assessment of housing need
  • Bedroom entitlement rules

  • Housing Allocation Policy

    Thank you for taking part in this consultation.

    Wealden District Council is reviewing its Housing Allocation Policy, which sets out how social and affordable housing is allocated across the district.

    This consultation seeks views on two proposed changes:

    1. Introducing a hybrid housing allocation system, where households with the highest priority housing need may be directly matched to suitable homes.
    2. Replacing parish-based local connection rules with a cluster-based approach, allowing applicants to access affordable housing opportunities across a wider area.

    You can take part whether or not you have applied for housing. Please read the information about each proposal before answering. Your answers are voluntary.  

    Your feedback will help inform the final Housing Allocation Policy and will be considered before recommendations are made to Cabinet. We will publish a summary of the responses and explain how they have informed the final policy.

    The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

    If you need this survey in another format or need help to take part, please contact the Housing Options team housingoptions@wealden.gov.uk or 01323 443380.


    Take Survey
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Page last updated: 30 Oct 2026, 03:40 PM