Stoke Gabriel Housing Crisis

Our village of Stoke Gabriel in the South Hams area of South Devon, has 680 homes, and is right on the edge of the beautiful River Dart, up river from Dartmouth, and attracts many holiday makers. This means there is a high proportion of second homes/holiday lets (often standing empty), coupled with high house prices.

The gap between earnings and house prices

People in our group who earn a low-average wage, cannot buy and have the security of our own long-term home. We all have to rent, due to the ever widening gap between house prices and wages and are not-eligible for the limited supply of ‘Devon Home Choice' social housing. Our needs are called "intermediate housing needs for working people" by South Hams District Council.

Local House Prices.

A basic 2-bedroom house here, costs over £220,000 and these often get snapped up by cash buyers as investments, then let out for on average of £800 a month. We have been working closely with our community, Parish Council, Neighbourhood Plan Group and South Hams District Council to understand housing needs here.

In Summary the Stoke Gabriel 2015 Housing Needs survey identified:

A need for 18 affordable homes in the next 5 years. 15 of these qualified for affordable rent. 85% of those who answered the question said they would be "in favour of a small development of affordable housing for local people".

The key evidence supporting the need for affordable housing comes from the 2015 Parish of Stoke Gabriel, Housing Need’s Survey 

Our Own SGCLT Questionnaires

These have been completed by all those who have identified themselves to the SGCLT in 2017-to present and shows a need for 10-15 affordable homes (6X2 Bed, 6X3 Bed) for singles, couples, parents and children of ages 12-55 year olds.

If you wish to be considered for a SGCLT home in the future, and want to find out more, please goto SGCLT HOUSING NEEDS FORM Fill out and return the form to us, and we will make contact.   

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE LIKELY TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN NEED THAN HOUSES AVAILABLE. THERE IS AN ALLOCATION POLICY THAT WILL BE USED TO DECIDE, PART OF WHICH IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVED.