 National Empty Homes Week is a great opportunity to demonstrate efforts to bring empty homes back into use and improve our neighbourhoods.
Our housing teams are working hard to reduce the number of empty homes in Teignbridge, with our long-term empty properties at just 0.54% of total housing, well below the regional (0.9%) and national (1.03%) averages.
We support owners in bringing their properties back into use through:
- Affordable flexible loans in partnership with Lendology CIC for refurbishing empty residential properties and converting unused commercial spaces.
- Grants, subjecting to funding (where loans are unaffordable), linked to letting the property for a specified period.
-
Private sector leasing scheme (PSL) for hassle-free, guaranteed rent with fully managed properties.
Once a property has been unoccupied for one year or more, a 100% long term empty homes premium is applied doubling the standard council tax charge.
Where owners are unable or unwilling to bring empty properties back into use, we can also take enforcement action which can result in enforced sale, compulsory purchase or empty dwelling management orders.
We recently helped the owner of a former nursing home convert it into four flats with a Lendology loan. The sale of the flats is underway, with the loan to be repaid upon the sale of the first flat, allowing us to recycle funds and bring more empty properties back into use.
 Organisations supporting the cost of living event with Cllr Rosie Dawson, Chair of Teignbridge District Council
Over 80 people attended our cost of living advice event last Saturday in Dawlish. The event gave members of the public the opportunity to meet representatives from a range of organisations and get help and advice with housing, energy, wellbeing, maximising household income, and food support.
As the event was hosted in the café, lots of people initially came in for tea and cake, but then stayed and chatted!
Don't forget, you can find cost of living advice and support on our website.
 The Ogwell Link project is being delivered in two phases. Phase one was completed in Summer 2024 and included:
- Road improvements to Steppes Meadow (the access to Bakers Park car park and onward access to the active travel route to ASDA). This will benefit all road users, especially residents living on Steppes Meadow as this previously un-owned road is now adopted and will be maintained by Devon County Council.
- A stretch of new active travel route created alongside the tennis courts in Bakers Park (will open once Phase 2 is complete).
Phase 2 is progressing thanks to land being secured by Devon County Council, as well as our Executive Committee approving £65,000 of funding from Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton Garden Community and new development funding for the design work.
Once completed, Phase 2 will pass across a short stretch of National Trust land and a section of private land to link into the existing highway at Beverley Way. An off-road route will take users to Buntings Close in Ogwell, which is a quiet residential road. Additionally, a new shared road crossing over Totnes Road (close to Beverley Way) will improve access via Bradley Road.
Design work is due to be completed by the end of 2025 and efforts are being made to secure funding to construct the link. For more information on the Ogwell cycling and walking route, please visit our website.
|
