Councils raise concerns over new house building proposals

North Devon and Torridge district councils have raised concerns about new housebuilding targets being set out by the Government as part of new proposals for the planning system.

The councils have jointly responded to a government consultation on proposals to change national planning policy and the other aspects of the planning system, including fees and the threshold for government involvement, and have identified a number of areas of concern where they feel proposals will have a significant impact on the area.

The most significant change would see a dramatically higher new housebuilding target of 1,307 new homes a year across North Devon and Torridge over 20 years - an 83% increase on the current expected 20-year average of 714 and 52% higher than the existing North Devon and Torridge Local Plan figure of 861. The increased target is an attempt to improve housing affordability by boosting the national housing supply with 370,000 new homes each year.

The councils have also raised concerns with proposals which could allow developments to come forward in places where housing is not planned, arguing that it would undermine the local plan which has been formulated by residents to shape the future development of their local communities.

The consultation sought views on a wide range of other matters, and the councils are supportive of a range of the proposals, including an increased emphasis on the delivery of social rented housing, and more support for community-led development.

Lead member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Planning at North Devon Council, Councillor Malcolm Prowse, said:

"We have real concerns about what is a significant increase in the housing requirements for northern Devon proposed through this consultation, as it is dramatically higher than our historic delivery rates across the area.

"While we accept housing supply can affect the cost of house prices, there are a range of factors that affect housing affordability in northern Devon. Simply increasing housing delivery would not address our local housing crisis and could have a damaging impact on the area."

Lead member for Economy and Estates at Torridge District Council, Councillor Robert Hicks, said:

"Together our two district councils have scrutinised the Government's proposals and have provided an extensive and detailed response about what each of them would mean for our communities. There are a wide range of proposals and we have sought to support those which we feel will benefit northern Devon, as well as opposing those we feel could be damaging.

"We hope our points will be carefully considered and addressed. We will keep a keen eye on the final proposals and will enact any changes in a way that will ensure the best possible outcomes for the local area."

The outcome of the consultation is expected by early 2025. A copy of the councils' full response as submitted to the Government can be found on Torridge District Council's website.