Call for more affordable homes in Teignbridge

The number of people looking for homes in Teignbridge is ‘soaring’ and councillors have been told they must do more to force developers to build desperately-needed properties for local people.

The comments came as members of heard a report on the ‘dark situation’ around local housing needs.
Cllr Linda Goodman-Bradbury (Lib Dem, Dawlish NE), executive member for housing, presented a report to Teignbridge Council  and said one of the main challenges is insufficient housing to meet the need. Private rented accommodation is too expensive, and there are fewer properties in the rental or social tenancy markets.
The cost of putting people into temporary accommodation is rising, and currently only 17 one-bed homes are available for 551 applicants. There are 116 Ukrainian refugees living with hosts or in temporary accommodation and the Home Office is asking Teignbridge to find 90 bed spaces for refugees from Afghanistan, many of whom have worked for the British authorities.
“It is quite a dark situation,” Cllr Goodman-Bradbury told the council’s overview and scrutiny committee.
Teignbridge also has the highest number of people leaving council care in Devon, and a large number of young people with disabilities. Nine per cent of people in the district live in fuel poverty.
Cllr Goodman-Bradbury paid tribute to the ‘incredible team’ working in the council’s housing department.
Cllr Mike Ryan (SD Alliance, Buckland and Milber) said it is vital to invest in other services, such as health and education, alongside housing.
He said: “We can build as many houses as we want, but if we don’t have the services for people we are not going to be able to keep up.”
And Cllr Jane Taylor (SD Alliance, Kerswell with Coombe) stressed: “If we want properties, we need to be pressuring developers to provide those properties.”