Paignton campaigners in new call for affordable homes

Campaigners are urging Torbay Council to dedicate an entire development in Paignton to affordable housing, as well as bringing derelict buildings back into use.
Local councils currently expect 30 per cent of homes built on local sites by developers to be in the ‘affordable’ category, and developers pay compensation towards other housing schemes if they fall short of the target.
But now the Action for Paignton campaign group wants the council to take back control of a development site off Preston Down Road and build 100 per cent affordable homes on it.
The group believes it would help provide desperately needed accommodation for local people including nurses working at nearby Torbay Hospital. Health trusts across Devon say that a lack of suitable housing gives them problems recruiting staff.
As it stands, the site is likely to be sold on the open market.
The group says the council and its development agency the TDA are out of touch and ‘playing Monopoly’ with the bay.
Group spokesman Richard Kaskow said “Everyone in the country is aware of our nurses and care workers’ need for good quality affordable homes right now, but our local council has overlooked them with what is in my view a perfect opportunity to create a truly sustainable community with 100 per cent affordable homes, not another developer-style housing estate.”
The group also says that existing empty buildings across the bay should be put to use to help with Torbay’s long-standing housing issues.
Mr Kaskow said the derelict Haswell House in Paignton’s Totnes Road, which has been empty for nearly five years, is a good example.
He continued: “While the council has been buying homes for the homeless, the council-owned Halswell House has been lying there unused since 2019 when the children from the Medical Tuition Service were moved to the MyPlace youth centre.
“Instead of spending £600,000 sorting out the new youth centre, they could have spent a fraction sorting this house out. They could also have built a brand new facility for that amount.”
The council says Haswell House is already part of its plans.
A spokesman said: “It is currently being held by Torbay Council’s housing options team for potential redevelopment.
“The council has a long-term ambition to bring the asset back into use to provide housing for the local community. Torbay Council intends to conduct a detailed assessment of both Haswell House and the building next door to assess their suitability to serve local housing needs.”