Government’s decision to drop plans welcomed as affordable homes protected in rural Devon

Devon County Council has welcomed the Government’s decision to drop plans that would have removed affordable housing requirements from housing developments of between 10 and 49 homes.

The change follows concerns from housing organisations and rural communities that the proposals could have significantly reduced the number of affordable homes being built in areas like Devon, where medium-sized developments play a vital role in meeting local housing need.

National Housing Federation analysis found that more than half of all affordable homes delivered in the most rural parts of England come from developments of this size.

The decision comes at a time when demand for affordable housing continues to grow across Devon. The county faces a well-documented shortage of social and affordable homes, with housing waiting lists remaining high and many families struggling to find somewhere they can afford to live.

Devon’s housing challenges have been highlighted repeatedly by the Devon Housing Commission, which described the county as facing an acute shortage of affordable housing.

The council also highlighted work already under way through the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority to increase the supply of affordable housing.

Partners across Devon and Torbay have developed a county-wide pipeline of priority housing sites with Homes England and are working to secure investment through the Government’s Social and Affordable Homes Programme. A key aim is to increase the proportion of affordable homes delivered on new developments and bring forward more genuinely affordable housing for local people.

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