Devon affordable homes shortage leading to ‘hardship’

Councils across Devon have been urged to create more affordable housing.

The recommendation comes in a report by Lord Richard Best, chairman of the Devon Housing Commission.

Following a year-long study into the council’s housing needs, he says: “The shortage of secure, decent homes is leading to hardship for many households.”

The commission launched in 2022 after Devon’s councils declared a housing crisis and was supported by the University of Exeter. It set out to analyse and find solutions to the problems in local housing markets.

Exeter City Council was among those taking part, with the final report being considered at a recent meeting of the city’s executive committee. The council said that providing the quantity, type, and quality of homes that Exeter needs in the future will be achieved by building on brownfield land.

The report says local councils spend too much on unsatisfactory temporary accommodation, and young people are leaving the county because of a lack of opportunities.

It says Exeter has significant housing needs and a large number of people on the waiting list for affordable housing. There are also issues associated with the quantity of student accommodation, and that because Exeter has a ‘tightly constrained’ boundary, it should work closely with neighbouring Teignbridge, Mid Devon, and East Devon.

“This puts front and centre the real problem we have about affordability,” said Cllr Diana Moore (Green, St Davids). “Councils are part of the solution to this.”