I would like to return to housing this week and what Devon County Council is doing to help ease our housing crisis.

And I have some good news in that respect.

We're not a housing authority—that's the responsibility of the individual district councils—but we do work closely with them on both strategic policy and specific projects.

Our new devolution deal with Torbay Council also has housing, particularly affordable housing, as one of its key initiatives.

So I was particularly delighted that the new Government has confirmed an upfront payment of £16 million ahead of our full devolution arrangements coming into operation early next year.

This money will be spent across the county and is the result of close cooperation and partnership between the county and our district councils on individual projects.

It will be spent on providing more affordable homes, sheltered accommodation for vulnerable residents, green jobs, and business growth.

More than half—some £8 million—will be spent on housing projects.

So across the county from Ilfracombe, Woolacombe, and Parracombe in the north, to Tavistock in the west, to Chawleigh and Thorverton in mid-Devon, there are several specific projects aimed at housing needs.

In all, the funding will enable 16 projects to progress and, as well as the housing schemes, it will also accelerate our transition to a net-zero economy and capitalise on the area’s world-leading expertise in green science and technology.

One of the biggest grants—nearly £2 million—is coming to a project to improve life in Cranbrook.

The so-called Cranbox development is a project by Cranbrook Town Council with East Devon District Council, which will help local businesses and the community to make use of accommodation in the parade of shops being built on the southern side of the High Street.

This is being commercially developed and there were fears that local businesses might not be able to afford the commercial rents.

This funding will enable space to be made available for both community and commercial use, and it’s estimated that 52 full-time equivalent jobs will be created both directly and indirectly.

Another three-quarters of a million pounds is going to Exeter College for a scheme to update and enhance its existing facilities for training students in car and engineering skills.

Currently, demand for courses related to the repair and maintenance of electric vehicles is high and increasing.

The college’s present capacity is capped by its limited number of specially prepared training vehicles and related diagnostic equipment for trainees to use.

The project provides for the addition of four vehicles and the associated equipment to accelerate the transition from skills training for vehicles with combustion engines to training for electric vehicles and marine craft.

It will also boost skills in battery manufacture and maintenance.

The college will also invest in new equipment at its Technology Centre to support highly effective training in precision and high-integrity welding.

So they’ll be able to train contractors and individuals involved in the installation and maintenance of the Exeter District Heating Network, which requires welding skills during pipework installation.

The plan is to train 16 to 19-year-olds, apprentices, and adult learners, address a skills gap in these areas and so allow businesses involved in servicing zero-emission vehicles and district heating markets to expand.

And on a county-wide basis, the county council has won almost £2 million to set up a Green Impact Fund.

This will provide capital funding support to enable businesses and community organisations to adopt and implement sustainable products and technologies.