Not enough new homes are being built in Devon according to Government figures
Some councils dispute the new figures
Daniel Clark Local Democracy Reporter
17 AUG 2018
An extra 850 houses a year across Devon need to be built to meet the housing needs of the county.
The figures, revealed following an investigation by the BBC’s Shared Data Unit, show that only two councils – Plymouth and North Devon – hit targets over a 10 year period for new homes. Only North Devon built enough homes in 2016-17.
The Government’s assessment of the annual housing need says 5,255 new homes need to be built across Devon each year. The Ministry of Housing states that only 4,400 were built in 2016-17, and the average between 2007-08 and 2016-17 was 4,040.
The Ministry of Housing figures
However, Plymouth, South Hams, West Devon and Teignbridge councils all dispute some of the figures.
In Teignbridge 756 new homes need to be built each year. The quoted data says 718 were built in 2016-17, with an average of 524 built in the last 10 years, meaning that only 69 per cent of the target number of homes was met.
But Cllr Humphrey Clemens, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, said: “The housing numbers quoted do not entirely agree with Teignbridge’s thoroughly prepared housing completion data.”
However, Plymouth, South Hams, West Devon and Teignbridge councils all dispute some of the figures.
In Teignbridge 756 new homes need to be built each year. The quoted data says 718 were built in 2016-17, with an average of 524 built in the last 10 years, meaning that only 69 per cent of the target number of homes was met.
But Cllr Humphrey Clemens, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, said: “The housing numbers quoted do not entirely agree with Teignbridge’s thoroughly prepared housing completion data.”
Teignbridge data
Cllr Clemens added: “It is entirely inappropriate to try to measure housing numbers built as far back as the early 2000s against a housing need figure which was only calculated less than a year ago. We think this approach is highly misleading. It certainly ignores the major efforts Teignbridge has undertaken to increase the pace of new homes being built in our district, including increased numbers of affordable homes and, for the first time, require a proportion of self-build homes as part of the innovative Teignbridge Rule.
“During this ten year period, different targets have applied to all of the Devon authorities referred to. In Teignbridge the figure of 756 marks a target increase while in other areas the latest government figures represent a reduction. This data has the potential to be misleading as a result.
“The Teignbridge Local Plan was adopted in 2014 and included a housing target of 620 per year. This was robustly tested in public by an independent inspector based on the most appropriate data at the time. Since the plan was adopted, Teignbridge has proudly exceeded its housing target each year and is one of only around 10% of areas to do so across the country over that period.
“We are now reviewing our Local Plan, including through the GESP (Greater Exeter Strategic Plan). The result will be a strategy for responding to the latest housing target at the time of adoption. By then the target is likely to change again alongside changes to the various relevant data.”
The Government’s assessment of the annual housing need for Plymouth says that 647 homes need to be built, with 528 built in 2016-17, and an average of 673 built in the past 10 years.
However, a Plymouth City Council spokesman said: “We dispute the quoted figures and have provided what we believe to be accurate based on our calculations. Please find below a chart that details the progress of housing delivery in Plymouth since 2006-07.
Cllr Clemens added: “It is entirely inappropriate to try to measure housing numbers built as far back as the early 2000s against a housing need figure which was only calculated less than a year ago. We think this approach is highly misleading. It certainly ignores the major efforts Teignbridge has undertaken to increase the pace of new homes being built in our district, including increased numbers of affordable homes and, for the first time, require a proportion of self-build homes as part of the innovative Teignbridge Rule.
“During this ten year period, different targets have applied to all of the Devon authorities referred to. In Teignbridge the figure of 756 marks a target increase while in other areas the latest government figures represent a reduction. This data has the potential to be misleading as a result.
“The Teignbridge Local Plan was adopted in 2014 and included a housing target of 620 per year. This was robustly tested in public by an independent inspector based on the most appropriate data at the time. Since the plan was adopted, Teignbridge has proudly exceeded its housing target each year and is one of only around 10% of areas to do so across the country over that period.
“We are now reviewing our Local Plan, including through the GESP (Greater Exeter Strategic Plan). The result will be a strategy for responding to the latest housing target at the time of adoption. By then the target is likely to change again alongside changes to the various relevant data.”
The Government’s assessment of the annual housing need for Plymouth says that 647 homes need to be built, with 528 built in 2016-17, and an average of 673 built in the past 10 years.
However, a Plymouth City Council spokesman said: “We dispute the quoted figures and have provided what we believe to be accurate based on our calculations. Please find below a chart that details the progress of housing delivery in Plymouth since 2006-07.
Plymouth figures
“The success of continuing to build homes in Plymouth is built upon our award winning Plymouth Plan for Homes, first implemented in 2013. Thanks to proactive planning, working closely with partners both in the public and private sector and having a clear long-term strategy, the plan has helped Plymouth to keep building homes.
“The plan plots out a clear vision for the city as a whole and places the importance of high quality homes high on the political and city agenda to provide focus and drive for our award-winning housing team. We know that there is a lot more work to do and we are committed to continue our work to encourage house building within Plymouth.”
In the South Hams, 354 homes need to be built each year, and 318 need to be built in West Devon. The quoted figures suggest that 326 and 196 respectively in 2016-17 with an average of 261 and 250 built in the past 10 years.
But a spokesman on behalf of South Hams and West Devon said: “The Joint Local Plan (JLP), the strategic plan for development in the South Hams, West Devon and Plymouth has been created to meet housing need across the three Council areas until 2034.
“While there are discrepancies between the Government figures and our detailed calculations, the figures are sufficiently close enough to indicate that we have a suitable strategy for delivering the homes that are needed.
“The Councils continue to work together and proactively with communities and the construction industry to deliver high quality homes with adequate infrastructure and protecting the environment and other community interests. The overriding objective at the heart of the Councils’ strategy is to build affordable homes for local people.”
Mid Devon District Council’s assessment of housing need as the Government suggests 354 new homes a year should be built, with 326 built in 2016-17 with an average of 261 over 10 years.
“The success of continuing to build homes in Plymouth is built upon our award winning Plymouth Plan for Homes, first implemented in 2013. Thanks to proactive planning, working closely with partners both in the public and private sector and having a clear long-term strategy, the plan has helped Plymouth to keep building homes.
“The plan plots out a clear vision for the city as a whole and places the importance of high quality homes high on the political and city agenda to provide focus and drive for our award-winning housing team. We know that there is a lot more work to do and we are committed to continue our work to encourage house building within Plymouth.”
In the South Hams, 354 homes need to be built each year, and 318 need to be built in West Devon. The quoted figures suggest that 326 and 196 respectively in 2016-17 with an average of 261 and 250 built in the past 10 years.
But a spokesman on behalf of South Hams and West Devon said: “The Joint Local Plan (JLP), the strategic plan for development in the South Hams, West Devon and Plymouth has been created to meet housing need across the three Council areas until 2034.
“While there are discrepancies between the Government figures and our detailed calculations, the figures are sufficiently close enough to indicate that we have a suitable strategy for delivering the homes that are needed.
“The Councils continue to work together and proactively with communities and the construction industry to deliver high quality homes with adequate infrastructure and protecting the environment and other community interests. The overriding objective at the heart of the Councils’ strategy is to build affordable homes for local people.”
Mid Devon District Council’s assessment of housing need as the Government suggests 354 new homes a year should be built, with 326 built in 2016-17 with an average of 261 over 10 years.
The Government says Devon is failing to build enough new homes
Jenny Clifford, Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration, for Mid Devon District Council said: “Mid Devon District Council is working hard to help meet local housing need through the planning process with 502 new homes completed in 2017/2018 which is a significant increase over previous years. Once adopted, the new Local Plan for Mid Devon will assist the supply of new homes to meet need and identify where they can be built.
“The Government seeks to increase the number of new homes being built nationally and following the recently published new National Planning Policy Framework, will shortly provide guidance to Councils over new ‘minimum’ housing needs that should be planned for.”
North Devon Council are exceeding the Government targets, with an annual housing need of 311, but built 471 in 2016-17 and at average of 345 over 10 years. Cllr Des Brailey, Leader of North Devon Council says, “Councillors and officers have been working hard to meet the government targets set for housing need, and are pleased to have exceed them for North Devon. We have an ambitious growth agenda for the district’s future, of which housing is a key part.”
Torbay Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council and Torridge District Council did not respond to request for comment on the figures.
The figures shows that in Torbay, only 58 per cent of the housing need targets were met over a 10 year period, with 343 rather than the needed 588 built.
Exeter City Council’s assessment of need is 627 homes per year, but only 450 were built in 2016-17 with an average over 10 years of 416.
There were 335 new homes build in Torridge in 2016-17, and an average of 341 over 10 years, with the Government target being 444.
The assessment of need for East Devon is 844 homes, with 724 built in 2016-17 and an average of 581 built in the past 10 years – although the previous three years saw 849, 1089 and 1027 homes built respectively.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “This Government is committed to building a housing market fit for the future and 217,000 new homes were delivered in England last year. This is up 15% on the previous year and the highest increase in nine years.
“We have also set out an ambitious programme of reforms to boost housing supply – including planning reform and targeted investment to help us deliver an additional 300,000 properties a year by the mid-2020s.”
In England in 2016-17 - the last full year of data available for overall new homes supply rates - 217,000 new homes were created. This was a five-year high, but still significantly short of the latest government target of 300,000 new homes a year.
Not enough new homes are being built in Devon according to Government figures - Devon Live
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Jenny Clifford, Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration, for Mid Devon District Council said: “Mid Devon District Council is working hard to help meet local housing need through the planning process with 502 new homes completed in 2017/2018 which is a significant increase over previous years. Once adopted, the new Local Plan for Mid Devon will assist the supply of new homes to meet need and identify where they can be built.
“The Government seeks to increase the number of new homes being built nationally and following the recently published new National Planning Policy Framework, will shortly provide guidance to Councils over new ‘minimum’ housing needs that should be planned for.”
North Devon Council are exceeding the Government targets, with an annual housing need of 311, but built 471 in 2016-17 and at average of 345 over 10 years. Cllr Des Brailey, Leader of North Devon Council says, “Councillors and officers have been working hard to meet the government targets set for housing need, and are pleased to have exceed them for North Devon. We have an ambitious growth agenda for the district’s future, of which housing is a key part.”
Torbay Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council and Torridge District Council did not respond to request for comment on the figures.
The figures shows that in Torbay, only 58 per cent of the housing need targets were met over a 10 year period, with 343 rather than the needed 588 built.
Exeter City Council’s assessment of need is 627 homes per year, but only 450 were built in 2016-17 with an average over 10 years of 416.
There were 335 new homes build in Torridge in 2016-17, and an average of 341 over 10 years, with the Government target being 444.
The assessment of need for East Devon is 844 homes, with 724 built in 2016-17 and an average of 581 built in the past 10 years – although the previous three years saw 849, 1089 and 1027 homes built respectively.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “This Government is committed to building a housing market fit for the future and 217,000 new homes were delivered in England last year. This is up 15% on the previous year and the highest increase in nine years.
“We have also set out an ambitious programme of reforms to boost housing supply – including planning reform and targeted investment to help us deliver an additional 300,000 properties a year by the mid-2020s.”
In England in 2016-17 - the last full year of data available for overall new homes supply rates - 217,000 new homes were created. This was a five-year high, but still significantly short of the latest government target of 300,000 new homes a year.
Not enough new homes are being built in Devon according to Government figures - Devon Live
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