CENTRAL DEVON MP Mel Stride has welcomed figures which show the country is building again with housing starts and completions at a seven-year high. The statistics show more than 143,500 new-build homes were started in 2015 (nearly double the low-point of 2009) and homes completed in 2015 were up by 21% compared to 2014.

Mr Stride said: ‘This is good news for young families across the country but especially here in Devon where wages are below average but house prices are relatively high leading to many people struggling to get on the housing ladder. The fact that planning permissions are up 12% on the previous year is also a big positive, meaning this increase should carry on into 2016. The Government’s reforms to the planning system are now taking effect and builders are confident in investing and building homes.’

Of the local and unitary authorities in Devon, East Devon leads the way with 900 homes completed during 2015, followed by the Plymouth with 870, Exeter with 550, Teignbridge and Torbay both with 450 and Torridge with 400. Lower down on the list are North Devon and South Hams with 240, Mid Devon with 220 and West Devon with 190.

Mr Stride has repeated his calls for first-time buyers to explore the Government’s Help to Buy ISA which was introduced in December. The Government will add £50 for every £200 saved so if a first-time buyer saves up to £12,000, the Government will give them an extra £3,000 for a deposit on a house. To qualify for the scheme you must be a first-time buyer, aged 16 or over and intend to use the deposit on a property worth less than £250,000. For more visit www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk.