Settlements across East Devon, including Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary, could see less affordable housing in future developments, under new rules announced this week.

Until now, the district council required 40 per cent of homes in new developments across the region to be social or affordable housing, with the rest sold at open market prices.

But new government rules now require developers to provide 25 per cent affordable housing in Ottery.

And because Sidmouth is classed as one of East Devon’s four ‘urban areas’, separate guidelines mean that developers building up to 10 homes in the town are not obliged to provide any affordable housing at all. However, larger developments of more than 11 dwellings in the town will now be subject to a 50 per cent affordable housing tier.

Any housing planned for outside of the designated ‘built-up area boundary’ of East Devon’s towns and villages will now be expected to allow for 66 per cent affordable homes.

The Government says the rules will boost the economy and house building by cutting costs for smaller-scale developers.