Thousands of new homes must be built across Torbay

Nearly 1,000 new homes must be built in Torbay every year under government housing targets.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner wants 1.5 million properties built across the country over the next five years, but Torbay councillors have been warned that the policy will have serious repercussions for the bay.

Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton) told the council’s cabinet it is vital for all parties to work together with local communities on the next version of the local plan document which shapes development policies across Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

“We have gone from having an advisory starting point for housing in our area to a mandatory target of 940 new homes a year,” he said.

“If we deliver that we will see the entirety of Torbay built on over the next 14 years. I hope we can come up with some solutions.”

Recent housing developments have delivered hundreds of homes around the bay. The Inglewood development at White Rock will have just under 400 homes, and more than 100 more are being built in fields at Collaton St Mary.

The bay also has large plots at places including Hollicombe and the old STC factory in Paignton, where permission for homes was given some years ago, but building never started.

Cllr Darren Cowell (Ind, Shiphay) said the 940-homes target was ‘scare-mongering’, and having targets was nothing new, but Cllr Chris Lewis (Con, Preston) disagreed.

He said: “The government has set the figure and there is very little wriggle room. It’s not scare-mongerring, it’s fact.”

Cabinet members unanimously endorsed a timetable which will see a new draft local plan drawn up by October.