West Devon Invests Second Home Tax In New Housing

West Devon Borough Council has committed to investing £80,400 from second home council tax income to support the purchase of two new homes under the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF). This brings the total number of homes delivered through the scheme in the Borough to 13.

The council has also earmarked one of its larger LAHF properties as potential accommodation for young care leavers with no permanent place to live. All income from second home council tax has been ringfenced for housing-related projects, reinforcing the council’s strategic approach to addressing local housing challenges.

Councillor Mark Renders, Lead Member for Housing, said the move demonstrates how the council is tackling housing pressures in high-demand areas, adding:

"This investment isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about giving our residents somewhere safe and secure when they need it the most".

Additional work is underway across the Borough to meet local housing need. New temporary accommodation on Plymouth Road in Tavistock is due to open shortly, alongside several ongoing affordable housing developments. Through its West Devon Housing Offer, the council is also supporting communities to develop local housing solutions such as Community Land Trusts.

More information is available at: www.westdevon.gov.uk/housing

RSN members: We welcome your views, case studies, and updates on housing delivery initiatives in your area. Please get in touch if you would like to share your work in a future Bulletin.