Cox attack on local government ‘unjustified and disingenuous’
Campaigners have struck back at MP Sir Geoffrey Cox's unwarranted criticism of Torridge District Council in relation to a controversial housing development in Winkleigh. The former Attorney General blamed the Council for failing to have a 5-year supply of land for housing. In November 2019, Torridge published a joint report with North Devon at which identified land supply for 6.4 years.[1] However, since March 2020, when a decision went through on appeal in relation to a development of 181 homes in Torrington, the Council has been forced to look more favourably on proposals outside the area designated by the Local Plan. Ken James, leader of Torridge District Council has explained that, although Torridge has sufficient land allocated for housing, if for whatever reason the number of houses delivered is below target, developers are able to challenge the Local Plan and bring forward sites that do not fully conform with it.[2] In the case of the Winkleigh development, this is what happened.
David Wilson, Parliamentary Spokesperson for Torridge and West Devon Lib Dems, said:
'Sir Geoffrey Cox's statement is disingenuous in the extreme. It is central government policy that puts pressure on local councils to fulfil national housing targets. It is the Conservative Government which has set a developer-led agenda which means that local voices and local objections count for nothing. He knows full well that the developers have exploited a loophole which his own Government left open for them. The Lib Dems would do things differently and give power back to local authorities and the people they serve.'
Local Lib Dem campaigner Roger Allen, whose recent survey first highlighted the impact of overdevelopment as top of people's concerns in Winkleigh, said:
'I am glad that this issue is finally receiving the attention it deserves. Sir Geoffrey's comments do call into question the role of Winkleigh's own Conservative Councillor. Geoffrey Cox's blame-throwing is unjustified and cannot disguise the failings of his own government's policy. He knows full well that we have a serious housing crisis here in Torridge. He should be using his influence to work with locally elected representatives to resolve it, but instead he criticises them for allowing expansion when they have no power to stop it.'
Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Torridge District Councillor for Torrington, said:
'This episode shows how dysfunctional the Tories' planning policy is. They have local government in a stranglehold when it comes to house building targets, yet still we have an acute shortage of affordable homes and especially homes to rent. Housing policy needs to be much more targeted to local need.'
David Wilson added:
'Torridge Liberal Democrats want a housing policy to protect our local communities by helping young people continue to live and work in the area, providing vital local services, not the developer-led system created by Geoffrey Cox and the Tories.'
[1] North Devon and Torridge five-year land supply position statement November 2019: https://consult.torridge.gov.uk/portal/planning/localplan/adoption/housing/
[2] Devon Live, 8 August 2022: Torridge 5-year land supply not a 'free for all' for development says leader: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/torridge-five-year-land-supply-7431680