A multi-million pound cash injection to provide more affordable homes, sheltered accommodation, green jobs and business growth in Devon and Torbay has been confirmed by Government.

More than £8 million will be spent on housing projects in East, North, Mid and West Devon, the South Hams and Torbay.

They are part of the £16 million of capital funding from Devon County Council and Torbay Council’s devolution deal.

The funding will now enable 16 projects to progress, accelerating Devon and Torbay’s transition to a net-zero economy and capitalising on the area’s world-leading expertise in green science and technology. 

The schemes have been developed by district councils, key business organisations, training providers and other selected organisations who were invited to put forward schemes which could meet the requirements of Devon and Torbay’s devolution proposal.

Projects include:

• Torbay Council will repurpose holiday/visitor accommodation to create up to 36 affordable homes
• A programme of training at Exeter College to boost practical skills related to green energy
• North Devon Council will take control of a number of existing low quality properties in Ilfracombe and improve them to create decent low cost, energy efficient housing in order to re-let them as an ethical landlord
• Development of a Green Skills and Energy Centre at South Devon College with the installation of green energy training equipment
• Development of modular units known as ‘Cranbox’, to help local businesses set up in Cranbrook and to create a commercial and community hub

Torridge District Council will establish the Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre to create a new global leading R&D space for next generation sustainable maritime initiatives and there will also be the improvement of an existing training facility at the Apricot Centre near Totnes which provides rural and agri-ecological skills for the rural economy.

Two feasibility studies will be undertaken – South Hams District Council will explore an electric vehicle solar canopy for Dartmouth park and ride, and Teignbridge District Council will consider a deep geothermal well at Heathfield near Newton Abbot.

West Devon Borough Council and South Hams District Council are carrying out two essential renovation projects for temporary accommodation to tackle the very acute needs of the housing crisis.

A Green Impact Fund is also being launched by Devon County Council to provide capital funding support to enable businesses and community organisations to adopt and implement sustainable products and technologies.

Councillor James McInnes, Leader of Devon County Council, said: "The confirmation of the funding from Government means that we can now issue grant agreements to each of the 16 projects. These initiatives, across Devon and Torbay, are wide ranging but they support a number of our key devolution ambitions including the delivery of local housing priorities, net zero targets and development of green skills."

Councillor Chris Lewis, Deputy Leader of Torbay Council, said: "These projects will make a vital contribution to closing the gap between our region’s performance and the rest of the UK, which is precisely what our devolution deal is intended for. Given the timescales set by the Government to use the funding, the partners involved have had to balance deliverability and impact. I’ve no doubt all of the projects will successfully achieve both and help guide our future investment decisions."

Cllr Paul Arnott, Leader of East Devon District Council and Chair of Devon Districts’ Forum, said: "This is fantastic news for local communities across Devon and Torbay. It will create much-needed jobs and bring exciting opportunities for businesses, as well as helping us to address housing, skills and net zero carbon goals.

"At East Devon District we are proud of our successful bid worth nearly £2m which will allow Cranbook to move ahead with the exciting Cranbox scheme." 

Full list of projects

£2 million – Torbay Council (Hotels to Homes) – The Council will repurpose holiday/visitor accommodation into affordable homes. This will address the acute housing supply needs of Torbay. The project will see the acquisition of properties to deliver 18-36 new housing units.

£2 million – Exeter City Council (Decarbonisation of Council-Owned Homes) – The Council will retrofit around 50 of its social houses with energy efficiency measures and low carbon technology. The Council will prioritise the worst performing properties (EPC Band D-G), with a fabric-first whole house carbon retrofit upgrade. This project will contribute to the overall aim of retrofitting the entire stock of 4,800 properties and supporting vulnerable or low-income tenants in social housing.

£1,980,000 – North Devon Council (Ilfracombe Healthy Homes) – This pilot project will involve the Council taking control of a number of existing low quality, poorly converted properties. It will improve them and re-let them as an ethical landlord. The project will highlight how intervening in the local housing market can improve existing low-quality housing to create decent low cost, more energy efficient housing. This will have a positive impact on living conditions and the wider determinants of health.

£1,950,742 – East Devon District Council (Cranbox, Cranbrook Town Centre) – The development of a modular community and commercial hub in Cranbrook, East Devon.

£1,866,378 – Devon County Council (Green Business Grants) – Green Business Grants to provide capital funding support for business and community organisations.

£1.5 million – South Devon College (Green Skills and Energy Centre) – Development of a Green Skills and Energy Centre – creating additional teaching and associated space so that a range of green energy training equipment can be installed.

£1,080,200 – Torridge District Council (Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre) -Establishment of northern Devon’s first university research centre, creating a global-leading innovation centre.

£810,000 – North Devon Council (North Devon Low Carbon Affordable Housing) – Grant funding to complete the build of 27 units of community land trust low carbon affordable housing for social rent in the isolated villages of Woolacombe and Parracombe. Through this expenditure, released funds will be used to fast-track a further 57 units across the North Devon area.

£757,500 – Exeter College (Towards Net Zero Programme) – A programme to boost practical skills, fuel economic activity and reduce carbon emissions in Devon. This will increase provision in retrofit insulation, air-source heat pumps, solar power generation, electric and hydrogen zero emission vehicles, and high integrity welding skills required in the installation of District Heating Networks.

£671,000 – Mid Devon District Council (Care Leaver Accommodation) – The Council will deliver modular, net-zero carbon and neuro-diverse design specification units as dedicated self-contained one-bed care leaver provision managed by its Housing Options Team. Four units will be delivered in 2024/25.

£350,000 – Mid Devon District Council (Mid Devon Community Land Trusts) – Grant funding support two well-advanced community land trust projects in Chawleigh and Thorverton in Mid Devon. This will enable the successful delivery of the projects where progress may otherwise stall or fail without direct intervention.

£325,000 – West Devon Borough Council (Plymouth Road Supported Housing, Tavistock) – Redevelopment of a property (already owned by the Council) to provide three units of supported accommodation. These will primarily be for single homeless people or wider family groups who have complex needs including homeless care leavers.

£300,000 – South Hams District Council (Westville Flats) – Redevelopment of a recently acquired property in Kingsbridge that can provide nine units of supported accommodation. These will primarily be for single homeless people who have complex needs including homeless care leavers. The development will also include an office base from which the Council’s temporary accommodation support worker and other agencies will deliver support.

£279,180 – Apricot Centre (Training building at Huxhams Cross Farm, Totnes) – Extension and improvement of the existing training building at Huxhams Cross Farm to provide enhanced training and design consultancy. This will support the business to continue to provide rural and agri-ecological skills for rural economy.

£80,000 – Teignbridge District Council (Heathfield Geothermal Feasibility Study) – A feasibility study for a deep geothermal well within the area of Newton Abbot and its surroundings.

£50,000 – South Hams District Council (Dartmouth Electric Vehicle Solar Canopy) – A feasibility study for the following developments in Dartmouth:
• Solar photo voltaic canopy above the Park and Ride car park
• A live wire connection to the Health Hub to reduce their carbon footprint
• Electric vehicle rapid chargers for Park and Ride visitors
• Battery storage to provide grid stabilisation and commercial betterment