The countryside charity Devon CPRE is backing proposals to build nine social homes for local people at a site adjacent to the historic Great Field in Braunton.
The charity, which is famous for opposing suburban sprawl and housing developments that gobble up farmland, says the modest proposal will provide 10% of the social housing needed in Braunton without having to be accompanied by 30-50 additional ‘open market’ houses.
“We believe this proposal is consistent with our 99-year mission to protect the countryside, while providing homes that are desperately needed locally”, said Devon CPRE chairman Steve Crowther. “People sometimes imagine that CPRE is opposed to all development – but protecting rural England means nurturing a sustainable and flourishing rural economy, and if young people cannot afford to live here, that becomes impossible.
“We have been aware for a long time that some areas of Devon are in danger of becoming huge holiday camps with no staff – because young people, key workers and hospitality workers simply can’t find anywhere they can afford to live. The rental market has collapsed since online B&B services arrived, and new homes are snapped up in large numbers as investments and holiday homes, driving up prices beyond the reach of most local people.”
Emma Hookway, founder of the North Devon and Torridge Housing Crisis Group, says: “I founded the group due to the awful personal struggle I encountered when trying to house myself and my son. This was 3 ½ years ago and the situation is still dire for many local people who have no choice but to rent. The market is at saturation point, with demand for rental properties far outreaching the number available.
“Many families who have lived here for years have been pushed out of the village, not only due to the lack of rentals but also the extreme prices now being charged. I fully support the Community Land Trust development in Braunton. It is badly needed to ensure even a few local people can remain in the village. I’ve said this before, but if things don’t change, I will be the last generation of my family in the local churchyard.”
Steve Crowther adds: “In 2020-21 house prices in North Devon went up by 22.5% in a year*, from an already inflated level, driving prices even further away from average wages in the county. CPRE’s survey last year showed that while there are 14,000 families on Devon’s housing waiting lists right now, the whole county has built fewer than 10,000 social-rent homes in the past 33 years.
“Something has to be done. Regrettably, under current government policies, a compromise has to be made between the Local Green Space designation and Heritage status of the site and the pressing need for social housing in Braunton, where 82 families are waiting for accommodation. This modest development will provide 10% of that, on land which is ironically only affordable because of its special status.”
The initial application (79268) is only for Permission in Principle (PIP). Devon CPRE hopes that the ensuing full application will support high quality design, minimised carbon emissions, biodiversity net gain and landscape enhancements, as well as dedicated information displays highlighting the history and importance of the Great Field.
The application has been classed as a ‘delegated decision’ by North Devon Council, but owing to the level of local support for the scheme it is believed that councillors will ‘call it in’ for discussion by the full planning committee in the New Year. The first Planning Committee meeting of 2025 is scheduled for 8 January.