Exmoor Young Voices has recently put together a paper summarising our recommendations for Housing Young People on Exmoor. These recommendations are based on our Housing Needs Survey, EYV Members' research and discussions around the topic of affordable housing on Exmoor. Please download a copy of the paper below and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Did you see Exmoor Young Voices in Friday 25th February's edition of West Somerset Free Press? We're very pleased with Zoe's fantastic write up about our charity work and innovative Self Build Scheme. We hope it inspires other young people on Exmoor to join EYV and encourages anyone with land, ideas or offers of help to get in touch - exmooryoungvoices@hotmail.com

Earlier this month, Marion Silverlock spoke at the Exmoor National Park Authority Meeting regarding housing for local people and making young people a priority.

Marion also put forward a proposal for a pilot project to house young local people, which included the following points:

⭐️ Giving the housing of local young adults absolute priority over other groups

⭐️ Inviting & engaging all partners in the process to give young people a platinum status (for a set number of years)

⭐️ Monitoring & reporting on blocks & successes

⭐️ Insisting on a much fairer and simpler way of awarding local rented homes via a process that actively involves local young adults in its design

⭐️ Continuing to support EYV’s Self Build Scheme by removing obstacles, speeding up responses & doing everything possible to reduce avoidable expenditure

Marion says:

“A pilot project of this type coming at a time of changes to local government with increased powers to local communities is likely to be of interest to rural authorities everywhere. Exmoor could take the lead on the rethinking of population balance in the countryside.”

We are pleased with the positive response Marion received in the meeting. If you wish to watch the clip, follow the link below. Marion speaks from around 9:31.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLNwI7eiCOQ

ENPA is currently seeking views on the Local Plan as part of the 5-year Local Plan Review process. With this in mind, we ask you, our members, supporters and friends, to email the local planning department to express your support in making housing for local young people the overriding priority.

If you need help writing your email, we’ve got some templates you can use to guide you (just drop us a DM). It would be much appreciated if you could copy us (exmooryoungvoices@hotmail.com) into your communications. Please also ask any friends, family members and co-workers if they’d be willing to do the same. The more support, the better.

ENPA Local Plan Email address: localplan@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

The deadline for submission is 28th February 2022 and more info can be found here.