Some organic scale growth should also be allowed for in sub-Selected Rural Villages to keep those settlements alive, and/or maximise opportunities for brown field development.

Paragraph 55 of the Framework states, "To promote sustainable development in rural areas, housing should be located where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities."

Development can only support the vitality of rural communities in such villages if it is located in such villages - focusing all new housing development on the market towns and a handful of larger villages will not assist in enhancing, supporting or maintaining the rural services and community life there i.e. school, village groups, bus service links, etc.

Paragraph 29 of the Framework also states,

"The transport system needs to be balanced in favour of sustainable transport modes, giving people a real choice about how they travel. However, the Government recognises that different policies and measures will be required in different communities and opportunities to maximise sustainable transport solutions will vary from urban to rural areas."

Paragraph 34 of the Framework notes also there is explicit acknowledge that in rural areas, these opportunities may be more limited and so this should not be at the expense of the delivery of other aspects of the Framework.

As such, if the availability of public transport or the size of the settlement is (wrongly) deemed the main criteria for the assessment of sustainability, then it would be at the expense of the potential other wider cumulative benefits of some modest development in these villages in the rural area i.e. maintaining and supporting mixed and balanced communities, supporting local services, etc.

Development should not be precluded in one village at the expense of others on this basis.