THE emerging Regional Spacial Strategy for the period 2006-2026 had reached submission stage and proposed a reduction in annual housing provision requirements in the Teignbridge Plan area, the district authority's solicitor Simon Barnes told the inquiry. 'The annual average requirement for the area for 2006-2016 is 480 dwellings. Importantly, it will start at a base state of 2006 and so any accumulated shortfall in the provision to date under the structure plan target will not have to be made up. 'This would have an effect on both the Teignbridge planning area housing trajectory and the Teignmouth housing trajectory,' he said. Mr Barnes made it clear that the statement of common ground regarding affordable housing accepted a shortfall in Teignmouth. He said it was not realistic to expect the need for affordable housing in Teignmouth to be met in Teignmouth itself. 'One of the options, which should be tested, is that provision should be made in Dawlish instead, which does not have the same landscape constraints,' he said. He concluded that the development would cause irreparable harm to the landscape whether it be a Coastal Preservation Area, an Area of Great Landscape Value, or simply countryside outside the urban boundary. 'Is the acknowledged shortfall in affordable housing sufficient to justify this? The local planning authority says that it is not,' said Mr Barnes.
