OPE Partnership Board

Attendees:

Melanie Sealey (Chair), Keir Duffin, Patrick Rafferty, Paul Britton, Ian Thompson, Matt Dodd, Tom Phillips, Isabel Blake, Kevin Mills,  Michael Curtis, Sean Kearney, Mathew Chetwynd, Natalie Haines, Chris Trowell, Georgina Gillott, Megan Cross, Hannah Dixon (Minutes)

Apologies:

Jody Brown, Sean Anstee, Ian Collinson, Neil Blaney, Sayid Deksan, Sarah Jane Mackenzie-Shapland, Sarah Miles, Chris Fuller, Iain Masters, Andrew Collier, Chris Watts, Helen Bone, Sarah Ratnage, Tim Child, Adrian Welsh, David Carter, Catherine Turner, Chris Bartlett, Chris Shears, Claire Cushion, Dave Harwood, David Lang, Dominie Dunbrook, Laura Jayne Haynes, Mike Deaton

1. Minutes from the Previous Meeting

1.1 Minutes from the previous meeting agreed as an accurate record.

2. Public sector co-location / Business case update – Ian Thompson

2.1 Ilfracombe Health & Wellbeing Hub:

• Work has focused on developing the technical detail and potential layouts with NHS and DCC teams.
• Further workshops with DCC operational teams are planned to refine the layout to reflect DCC requirements.

2.2 Exeter Jobcentre (DWP) Relocation:

• Exeter Library is being explored as a potential co‑location site for:
  • DWP Jobcentre
  • DCC / Library services
• The library building offers:
  • A central Exeter location
  • Large open plan areas, meeting rooms, basement and upper office floors
  • Multiple access points suitable for public access, staff, and secure meetings (important for DWP)
  • Direct access to the refurbished children’s library

3. BLRF Bid Update – Keir Duffin / Paul Britton

3.1 The recent mini round of Brownfield Land Release Funding (BLRF) launched in December with a relatively small national pot of £20 million. Despite limited funding, Devon and Torbay performed well (roughly 10% of the total national fund) due to coordinated work across a strong local system: good governance, highq uality bids, and strong delivery record, giving Devon a consistently high success rate.

3.2 The successful projects were:Sherborne House – has been approved by the Minister and funding is confirmed.

• St George’s Road (Barnstaple) recommended for approval, pending ministerial signoff expected next week.

• Rope Walk (Kingsbridge) recommended for approval, pending ministerial signoff expected next week.

• A late submission not previously brought to the Board — the Harlequin Centre redevelopment in Exeter — is also progressing. The scheme includes ~300 flats, around 20% affordable housing.

3.3 If all schemes are approved, this funding round could support around 367 new homes in Devon.

3.4 A total of 367 homes supported locally, with £2.1m funding, demonstrating high success and credibility in Devon’s bidding process.

3.5 A new three year BLRF programme is expected to launch in the summer.

3.6 Work has begun to explore whether other public sector landowners (NHS, police, ambulance, etc.) could bring forward sites for potential housing redevelopment. This exploration is still early stage but could help unlock, derisk, and remediate surplus public land for new homes.

4. Devon and Torbay CCA – Housing Plan – Matt Dodd

4.1 The housing strategy is now published and available online – Housing – Devon and Torbay . It aims to identify common issues and gaps across housing authorities, and to address the most pressing priorities for the Devon & Torbay area. The strategy will need to respond to emerging national policy, including the recent Homelessness Strategy and Warm Homes Plan.

4.2 A key focus will be continuing to develop the housing pipeline with Homes England and local housing authorities. The pipeline has already proved useful in identifying potential interventions. Over the last year, nearly £1 million of Homes England revenue funding has been secured for Devon and Torbay. The pipeline includes both strategic sites and smaller regeneration sites, which align well with Brownfield Land Release Fund work.

4.3 A major upcoming requirement is the creation of a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS).

• The SDS:
  • Operates at a broader geographic scale than former county plans, but smaller than historic regional spatial plans.
  • Will guide long‑term housing growth (20–30 years) and infrastructure planning.
  • Must be completed by 2029, within this Parliament.
• Early steps taken:
  • Initial meeting of planning directors.
  • Engagement with MHCLG about support and guidance.
  • Government releasing guidance gradually, with more expected.

4.4 There will be regular updates to the Housing Advisory Group and CCA Board. ACTION: Matt to have a regular agenda item at this meeting, future updates may focus on specific policy areas, such as:

• Support for community led housing.
• Work with housing associations on stock disposal and local authority involvement.

4.5 Matt highlighted the value of lessons learned by the OPE and feedback, especially around brownfield land release and cross‑cutting themes (e.g., health, climate, housing in all policies). He welcomed ongoing collaboration and will continue to seek input from the group.