Torbay to 'speed up' housing delivery with new government funding

Torbay Council is set to receive a specific funding allocation from the government to accelerate the building of social and affordable homes.

The council has been named as a beneficiary of the Council Housebuilding Support Fund (CHSF), part of a wider package of measures announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

The local authority says the move will help "speed up" the delivery of much-needed housing for local households while reducing the high costs of temporary accommodation.

The funding comes as the government prepares to launch a £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme later this month, which aims to deliver 300,000 homes nationally.

Councillor Alan Tyerman, Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance, welcomed the news, stating that the programme would "create fresh opportunities" to provide homes while lowering council expenditure.

He confirmed that the council's strategy would remain focused on brownfield developments and the regeneration of redundant sites across the Bay.

The council is already moving ahead with several schemes designed to turn derelict or underused sites into modern housing:

• Torquay: The transformation of the derelict Brampton House into 14 energy-efficient apartments is now complete. Plans are also progressing for the site of the former Seabury Hotel.

• Brixham: Construction of 23 homes for social rent for older people at the former St. Kilda’s Care Home is due for completion later this year.

• Paignton: Major regeneration projects are planned for the town centre, including the redevelopment of the former Crossways site.

Beyond direct funding, the council will benefit from a significant change in administrative rules.

The threshold for opening a Housing Revenue Account, the financial structure used by councils to manage their housing stock, is being raised from 200 to 1,000 homes.

Local leaders say this will reduce "administrative burdens" and make it easier for Torbay to build on smaller "infill" sites and brownfield land.

The council added it would continue to work with housing associations to "unlock stalled sites" and reduce the reliance on "costly nightly-paid placements" for families in need of temporary shelter.