To provide up to £100,000 from the Council’s Affordable Housing budget to the Housing Company to fund the necessary works to obtain detailed planning permissions on sites at Totnes Road and Redwell Lane.

To enable detailed planning permission to be obtained on the sites at Totnes Road and Redwell Lane to bring forward new homes.

Money could be borrowed to fund these investigations but additional financing costs would be incurred making the developments less affordable.

This decision will come into force immediately.

Torbay Council recently authorised the disposal of land at Totnes Road and Redwell Lane to the Housing Company at nil cost.

As part of the housing company’s due diligence and to provide certainty that the expected outcomes can be achieved various investigations and surveys need to be undertaken and a planning permission obtained.

It is anticipated that both sites will generate circa 12 homes and assist with the delivery of much needed affordable housing and meet the objectives set out in the Housing Strategy.

The provision of affordable housing on these sites will go some way to reducing the numbers on Torbay’s Housing Waiting list which currently contains just over 1700 households.

When allocating the properties priority will go to households with a local connection.

This funding proposal meet the budgets spending criteria.

The following officers of the Council, individuals and organisations were consulted:- 

Liam Montgomery – Head of Asset management and Housing

Caroline Taylor – Director of Adult Social Care and Housing

Anne-Marie Bond – Director of Corporate Services and Operations

Martin Philips – Head of Finance

Housing Rental Company Committee

None