A TEIGNBRIDGE village could lose nearly £76,000 towards much needed affordable housing because of a loophole in the Government’s new planning rules.

Villagers in Kenton have been promised £75,884 to help fund an affordable housing project which would give a local family in housing need a home.

A legal agreement was signed with TeignbridgeCouncil just three months ago guaranteeing the money for affordable housing after the Chi restaurant in the village centre was granted planning permission to be converted into nine flats and apartments.

Now, says local councillor Alan Connett, a brand new planning application has been sent to Teignbridge – but this time under the Government’s new ‘relaxed’ planning regulations. The new regulations make it easier to convert vacant commercial premises for residential use.

And under the Government’s new regulations there is no requirement for owners to contribute to local affordable housing, Cllr Connett has been told.

If the new application is granted, Kenton will lose out on the near £76,000 for affordable housing promised just weeks ago on August 3, said Cllr Connett.

He explained: ‘The new application to convert the Chi restaurant seems to be very similar to the one for nine flats and apartments which already has planning consent.

‘It’s just that this time the applicants will not have to make a contribution towards affordable housing in the village.

‘Teignbridge could have used that funding towards buying a property in the village jointly with a housing association and renting it to a local family on the housing register.

‘Surely, the Government did not intend for existing agreements giving much needed support to the community to be torn-up as applicants shelter behind the newly relaxed planning rules designed to get long-standing empty commercial premises converted into homes.’

The need for rented homes in Kenton, like many parts of Devon, is acute.

A search on Rightmove on November 2 showed there were no privately rented properties available in the village, said Cllr Connett.

‘I can’t believe the Government intended that rural villages like Kenton should lose out by seeing existing planning agreements torn up.

‘This is a loophole in the new regulations and one the Government needs to move fast to plug. I am writing to the Government highlighting the problem.

‘What’s happening here could also be happening in many places across the country, he added.

‘Teignbridge planning officers tell me their hands are tied by the Government’s rules and there is nothing they can do about it.’