SOUTH Hams Council has stated that it is ‘increasing the delivery of affordable housing for people living and working in the South Hams.’

But local politicians and members of the chamber of commerce have stated that not enough is being done to solve the worsening housing crisis.

The district council has drawn attention to the development of 13 affordable homes in Churchstow in a press release this week, saying: ‘The district has continued to see a combination of rising housing costs and low average wages. With rural and coastal beauty spots commanding premium house prices and attracting second home owners, many areas such as Churchstow have seen demand for affordable homes increase.

‘In many rural communities, house prices are changing the nature of villages, with young people and many key workers moving elsewhere.’

The Churchstow development came through a partnership of Churchstow Parish Council working with registered housing provider DCH.

The process began by finding appropriate land from a local landowner as part of the Village Housing Initiative, and DCH worked with the original developer and South Hams Council to agree the design of the homes and secure planning permission.

Gareth Jones, development director for DCH said: ‘We are delighted to have worked in partnership with South Hams Council on this scheme to provide much-needed high quality homes for local people in Churchstow.

‘We are committed to investing in new homes and to supporting communities.’

But district and county councillor Julian Brazil said this doesn’t go far enough to address the crisis: ‘It’s great that there are 13 new affordable homes in Churchstow, but this won’t solve the problem.

‘Huge developments are being forced through that won’t provide affordable homes for local people. This will see a rise of elderly and retired people moving to the area, which will put more pressure on services - adult social care is already at a crisis point.

‘Far from solving the housing crisis, current policy only exacerbates it. The problem is that successive governments have seen housebuilding as a way of maintaining economic growth.

‘But if this is the government’s long-term economic plan, well it’s unsustainable. It’s a subsidy for the housing market.’

Cllr Hilary Bastone, South Hams Council’s portfolio holder for customer first, said: ‘Affordable housing projects like the one in Churchstow make sure people with local backgrounds are able to find suitable homes. We set out affordable housing requirements for developers across the district and we’re pleased to see projects like these in the South Hams – an area which really needs homes for local people.’

Cllr Brazil echoed the great need for homes for local people, drawing attention to the effect on the local economy and services in the district: ‘At a meeting of South Hams Hospital’s League of Friends, I was told that they’re struggling to recruit nurses for the hospital.

‘When I asked why, I was told, ‘house prices.’

‘The government believes that if we build loads of houses, prices are going to keep going down. But this is nonsense - developers restrict the number of developments each year to keep the prices high.

‘And demand is never going to be satisfied in the South Hams - as this is a popular place for people to move to, for obvious reasons. But this argument is trotted out again and again.

‘The government artificially keeps prices high - the last thing they want is for house prices to fall. It’s an artificial boost to the economy.’

Members of Kingsbridge and Salcombe Chamber of Commerce expressed similar concerns, with treasurer Peter Richardson saying: ‘As in all popular locations, the people we need to do jobs that are essential but not exceptionally well paid can’t afford to live here.’

Deborah Ward, from Salcombe Information Centre said: ‘This is a very contentious issue, how do they define affordable, when an average salary in this part of the country is about £20,000.

‘There are very few young couples who are in the position to buy locally and when social housing is provided locally, unless they have children, young couples do not stand a chance of getting to the top of the housing list.

‘As we are fully aware, the chamber members are now undergoing staffing issues as people cannot afford to move to the area, for permanent work and even seasonal work.

‘Maybe as a region we should be keeping a close eye on St Ives and see how their pilot housing and planning scheme progresses.’

Former Kingsbridge town councillor and mayor Wayne Grills said: ‘We need to build homes and we are struggling to do this.

‘We have too many unaffordable sites being developed, such as the recently refused K4 development.

‘The government policy seems to be ‘build at any cost’.

‘If we could look at more brownfield sites, and build affordable, environmentally passive homes - this would go some way to solving the crisis.’

Cllr Brazil added: ‘Housing in this country is all about profit, not need.

‘It’s all about the greed of landowners and developers.

‘With the knock-on effect it’s having on productivity, this is leading us into the economic wilderness.’