Cox attack on local government ‘unjustified and disingenuous’
Campaigners have struck back at MP Sir Geoffrey Cox's unwarranted criticism of Torridge District Council in relation to a controversial housing development in Winkleigh. The former Attorney General blamed the Council for failing to have a 5-year supply of land for housing. In November 2019, Torridge published a joint report with North Devon at which identified land supply for 6.4 years.[1] However, since March 2020, when a decision went through on appeal in relation to a development of 181 homes in Torrington, the Council has been forced to look more favourably on proposals outside the area designated by the Local Plan. Ken James, leader of Torridge District Council has explained that, although Torridge has sufficient land allocated for housing, if for whatever reason the number of houses delivered is below target, developers are able to challenge the Local Plan and bring forward sites that do not fully conform with it.[2] In the case of the Winkleigh development, this is what happened.
