IN an effort to tackle the housing crisis in West Devon, local MP Geoffrey Cox renewed calls for the Government to introduce greater flexibility into the planning guidelines. Describing the planning system as ?the major obstacle to affordable housing? the MP for West Devon and Torridge praised West Devon Borough Council for a report published recently which prioritised the creation of affordable housing. Mr Cox described it as ?pioneering? and said the council?s example set a good precedent for other local authorities to follow. Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, July 11 Mr Cox referred to the shortage of starter homes as one of the greatest issues affecting rural communities. He said an urgent solution, involving radical review of planning policy, is needed to stem the flow of young people out of the South West. Despite a recent drop in house prices the South West has been identified as one of the most expensive property regions in the UK with house price to earning ratios at 10:6:1 and 9:3:1 in West Devon and Torridge, compared to a national average of 6:6:1 for England as a whole. Mr Cox insisted, during the debate, people in rural areas were not hostile to building in general, but rather were sceptical of planning policy, as often in the past large and intensive developments had been approved without adequate consideration being given to the necessary supporting infrastructure.
