Council Criticised for Spending More on Beach Huts than Affordable Housing

Council Criticised for Spending More on Beach Huts than Affordable Housing

A council in Devon has been criticised for spending five times as much on beach huts than on affordable housing.

Torbay Council forked out £2.35m on the huts in the past three years, compared to just £470,000 on affordable homes.

Liberal Democrat Steve Darling called the situation “shocking”¹, saying the council has got its priorities wrong.

However, the Conservative-led council, which rents out some huts for over £2,500 per year, says: “They bring in much-needed revenue.”¹ 

¹ Unknown (2015) ‘Housing crisis? Our beach huts are nice’, Metro, 22 September, p.23