TWO thousand fewer houses will be needed in the next 20 years than at first thought, a consultants' rethink has revealed.

The original figure of 15,000 in Teignbridge Council's recently-published Core Strategy was challenged in January and Opinion Resource Services was asked to do its sums again, based on the fact that a drop in the number of people moving into the area had been overlooked and that an economic growth forecast had been too enthusiastic.

The official report will remain under wraps until Tuesday when it will be delivered to the council's executive committee.