We have listened and we will act on reducing housing numbers

As Leader of Teignbridge District Council I would like to reassure the public that we, as a council, have listened to public opinion concerning the level of housing required during the next 20 years.

We have carried-out the most extensive consultation process in the history of the council to canvas opinion on where the jobs and homes will be created for future generations.  The public have responded to Plan Teignbridge in spectacular fashion with around 7000 submissions, this coupled with fresh information from the Opinion Research Services review of housing need, will inform a future decision by the whole council.

The draft ORS report will be considered by both the Housing Numbers Review Group and the Executive at a joint meeting on 27^th March.

We are expecting a reduction in housing numbers to a level which is comparable to that of the 1990’s.  During that decade we built an average of 645 homes per annum.  People seemed comfortable with that build rate at that time, so it is nothing new in that level of provision.

Where the situation got out of control, was during the 2000’s when the build rate fell to an average of just 387 per annum, whilst house prices increased rapidly leaving many local people on local salaries high and dry and unable to get on the housing ladder. Evidence shows the housing crash towards the end of the decade had less of an impact that the lack of a functional housing delivery plan.

I believe the reason that housing delivery fell to levels as low as any time since the war was that the failure of the previous Local Development Framework. This has resulted in the difficulties we now face today with too many local people locked out of home ownership.

During the last administration the greatest challenge facing the council was the safe deliver of the LDF.  This failed to materialize and under inspection in June 2007 it failed on 5 of the 9 tests required. Most notably that it failed to involve the community nor did it provide a complete and robust evidence base to determine either the location (other than Kingsteignton) or the number of homes required.

I feel we can sincerely confirm that we have carried-out both of these requirements to an exemplary level.  We have genuinely listened and we have called for the most up to date evidence available before we as a council determine what the future holds for Plan Teignbridge.

Future planning is a complex issue and I take my responsibility seriously to everyone in the district to help deliver jobs, homes and better facilities to the people of Teignbridge.

Jeremy Christophers

Leader of the Council

Teignbridge District Councillor

Conservative Member for Haytor Ward