TEIGNBRIDGE has been ranked sixth for highest increase in home development planning applications, it has been revealed.

The council has seen a 36.86 per cent increase from 2015 when 407 applications were received compared to 557 in 2016.

A recent national survey found out that one-in-three people renovate their property with the aim of increasing its value and property in the UK has seen an annual price increase of 6.7 per cent.

Cllr Humphrey Clemens, the council’s executive member for housing and planning said: ‘The statistics are encouraging because they indicate that people are happy living here and want to stay and make improvements to their home, rather than moving elsewhere.

‘Teignbridge’s high performing planning department and Devon Building Control Partnership works hard to deal with applications quickly and maintain high standards of design, both of which contribute to a quality environment where homeowners have the confidence to invest in their homes.’