Locals voice concerns over new housing developments

Concerned residents in North Devon have voiced significant concerns about the increasing number of new housing developments in the area, with many claiming the properties are unaffordable and will add strain to already overwhelmed services. 

The announcement of another development by Allison Homes set to begin in Landkey this spring has only intensified these concerns.

D Thiele, a resident of Atherington, shared their frustrations with the North Devon Gazette: "On the whole, new builds are not affordable. They are priced for maximum profit and true local residents are being priced out. The wave of new properties is attracting buyers from outside the region, not existing residents." 

D Thiele also claimed that new homes put extra pressure on local infrastructure: "Every new build puts increased strain on the creaking infrastructure. It should be a planning requirement that developers must at least build what is needed locally before starting new housing estates."

These comments reflect a wider sentiment among locals, many of whom feel that new developments fail to integrate with the character of their towns and villages.

Alan Harding, another concerned resident, also expressed his dissatisfaction with local development practices: "If more housing is required, then the relevant infrastructure should be put in place first, not after the building companies promise to do this and then don’t follow through." 

Mr Harding also raised environmental concerns, stating: "The amount of trees that have been cut down along the Abbotsham Road and Clovelly Road is totally unnecessary. What about the carbon footprint?" 

He added, “We need more schools, doctors’ surgeries, and dentists to cope with the number of houses being built. The amount of agricultural land being developed is ridiculous, and where will all the rainwater go when we have houses, concrete, and roads covering these fields?”

Social media has provided a platform for many to share their discontent, with several locals expressing their views in comments to the Gazette. 

Marion Slee believes the developments are too expensive for locals, stating: “No, they are not affordable to people here. It's unfair for two full-time employed people trying to save to buy.” 

Alison Wright-Colton agreed, highlighting the issue of affordability for low-income residents: “Not affordable for young people or people in general on low Devon wages. The lack of infrastructure – no dentists, no doctors, no schools – is a big issue.”

Roo Williamson added: "I’m sick to death of the sight of them. Many locals can’t afford them. They are a blight on our landscape and are using up farmland that we need to grow food. The impact is vast, as we now don’t have enough doctors, dentists, or hospital beds to cater for all these people moving here."

Kat Palethorpe echoed these concerns, stating: “I agree that houses are needed, but we need more affordable ones.”

Deborah Myers, a 36-year-old mother of two from North Devon, currently rents but dreams of owning her own home. 

However, she feels that local houses are simply unaffordable. 

She told the Gazette: "My husband and I have been renting while trying to save for a deposit. We started saving back in 2019, and after five years, we've managed to save nearly £12,000. That's for a 5% deposit on houses around here. We're desperate for a 3-bedroom as we've outgrown the 2-bed we currently rent. But if we were to move to a larger rental, we'd be stuck, unable to save anything for a deposit because the rent is so much higher." Deborah also explored shared ownership options, where she'd only own 40 per cent of the property, but noted: "We'd be paying a mortgage and rent on the part we don't own, so we'd be no better off financially than we are now." 

She believes there should be a system where local prices are separate from out-of-town ones, saying: "There should be a local price and an out-of-town price. Make sure the locals have homes first, before selling up to people from London who have plenty of money because they have City jobs."

On the other hand, Lee Honey, a recent retiree who moved from a moved from a two- bed 1930s semi-detatched in London , shared his experience with new builds in the area. 

After moving to Devon in 2021, Mr Honey described the new housing market as frustrating. “We ended up paying over half a million for a four-bedroom, relatively new build, characterless box," Mr Honey said.

He criticised the design of new homes, stating: "They lack design or vision. Most new builds appear characterless and uninspiring, and they’ll date quickly."

Mr Honey also raised concerns over the quality of new homes: “The house we purchased is failing. The roof is failing, it’s damp, the garden is washing away. The cracks are showing and the issues that weren’t picked up by the previous owners are becoming apparent. We’ve put in a claim through NHBC, but I suspect we’ll be left with a £20K bill.”

Locational issues were also a concern for Mr Honey: “The locations houses are being built in are poor for wildlife or access. One local development has struggled to sell properties, which has devalued other houses in the area.”

The Gazette contacted both North Devon Council and Torridge District Council to find out how many current developments are being built but is still awaiting a response.

On the other hand, Vistry who’s brands include Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes have highlighted that their homes, including those at Bay View in Northam and The Pastures in Bideford, are a great option for younger buyers looking to get onto the housing ladder. 

They say their homes offer a range of sizes and shared ownership opportunities, along with incentives like mortgage contributions for the first 12 months and help with first-time buyer stamp duty relief starting in May. 

A spokesperson for the group said: “In North Devon, we’re currently offering a range of homes, including shared ownership, at our developments Bay View in Northam and The Pastures in Bideford – a perfect choice for younger buyers looking to get onto the housing ladder, whilst we also have other homes available in a range of sizes.

“We offer a number of buying incentives that are designed to make the purchase process easier, including having your mortgage paid for the first 12 months, and these incentives are available to all buyers. Additionally, following recent changes to first time buyer stamp duty relief, from May we will be offering packages that include paying this, to further help our customers.”