There is a more detailed explanation of the local plan here : https://kennvalley.mycouncillor.org.uk/2023/01/15/tdc-local-plan-publication-and-consultation/

The new Teignbridge local plan has been published. This is important and will shape development for the next 20 years.

There have been consultations on policies and on sites put forward by landowners, site inspections to understand local factors, to help officers assess the merits and constraints of sites and write a plan with the best policies and choices to meet the required numbers.

The current plan is out of date and allocated sites are running out. TDC must provide 741 houses per year. Without an updated plan developers will soon be able to appeal refusals and build where they like.

Gove recently said housing numbers are ‘advisory’, but he has not changed the law. TDC cannot afford to wait but we don’t want to lock-in these numbers, so we added a clause to review the plan if the law changes. The 741 houses include a 41% uplift over other areas, because Teignbridge prices are higher than salaries. This is supposed to bring down house prices, but it doesn’t work. There are better ways to make housing more affordable.

The plan also specifies sites including Markhams and Attwells farms. We opposed these large sites with concerns about the roads and green space. We campaigned to save the county farms and we are disappointed better sites could not be found.

There are good policies in the plan including carbon neutral housing, sooner than national legislation. Specific policies encourage renewable energy. There is a chapter on climate change replacing a policy. There are improvements on environment and biodiversity and public green space. A new cut and fill policy encourages developers to minimise waste soils by accommodating on site. This will reduce the need for sites like Lower Hare and Lower Brenton.

The plan will soon start the final consultation until 13th March. The link to post feedback will appear on the TDC website. There is more information there and on our Kenn Valley Councillors website.

Please feel free to email us and respond to the consultation. Thank you.

Andy Swain, Alison Foden, Charles Nuttall and Alan Connett