North Devon and Torridge district councils are continuing to meet targets for housing land supply, according to an updated report.

The report on the so-called five-year housing land supply, published on 4 December, shows the councils can demonstrate a housing land supply equivalent to 5.18 years.

Demonstrating a housing land supply is important because if councils are unable to do so, they are required to look more favourably on housing proposals that would not usually be considered appropriate. This can result in the granting of planning permission for housing in locations that were not expected to see development through the plan for the area’s future.

The latest five-year housing land assessment, paired with the councils' review of the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan in 2023, shows key housing policies are in line with current national planning policy.

While the councils have raised concerns about the government's proposed changes to national planning policy, which would see a substantial increase in local housebuilding targets, the proposed changes do not affect the current assessment.

Lead Member for Planning and Development at Torridge District Council, Councillor Rosemary Lock, says: "We are pleased that the latest assessment of the five-year housing supply demonstrates that we are continuing to meet the ambitious housing targets set within the current Local Plan. 

"By re-confirming that we have a sufficient supply of land for new housing in northern Devon, we can continue to ensure that development proposals are directed to the most appropriate locations for our communities, while resisting proposals that negatively impact the areas in which we live."

Lead member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Planning at North Devon Council, Councillor Malcolm Prowse, said: "It is really positive for the communities of northern Devon that we continue to be able to demonstrate a sufficient supply of land for housing but we must recognise that this alone does not  boost housing delivery or solve the problem of housing affordability in our local area.

"We continue to have concerns about the achievability of the government’s proposed housing targets and the potential far-reaching consequences for how we plan to meet the needs of our communities in the future. Nonetheless, this latest assessment shows that when we set ambitious, yet realistic targets through planning policy, we can deliver for our local communities, working in partnership with the development industry and other key stakeholders."

The Five Year Housing Land Supply Statement is available to view at www.torridge.gov.uk/fiveyearsupply and www.northdevon.gov.uk/fiveyearsupply.