New figures show planning applications for homes in Devon and Cornwall have reached their highest annual level in a decade. More than 8,000 new homes were submitted for planning across the two counties in 2025, according to analysis from Planning Portal, the national planning application service. That total was 36% higher than in 2024.
Activity continued into the first half of 2026, with 3,570 new homes submitted for planning across Devon and Cornwall. West Devon alone recorded 218 new homes submitted in that period, more than three times the 71 submitted in the same period in 2025.
The report identifies residential development, commercial property, renewable energy and public infrastructure as key areas for growth across the two counties. It also points to market towns, coastal communities and rural centres as areas where regeneration and investment could support local needs while retaining and reflecting the character of individual places.
According to the report, wider development is being supported by population growth, lifestyle migration, tourism and infrastructure investment. It also identifies renewable energy, aerospace, marine engineering and critical minerals as emerging sectors contributing to growth in the region.
Housing availability and affordability are among the challenges highlighted in the analysis, alongside high levels of second-home ownership in some tourist areas compared with national averages. Cornwall has more than 13,000 second homes, making up around 10% of its housing stock, while Devon has approximately 11,000, accounting for around 4% of its housing stock, according to the report.
Environmental and geographical constraints are also expected to influence where future development can take place. Around 35% of Devon and 27% of Cornwall lie within protected landscapes, meaning planning decisions are influenced by landscape protection designations and the need to balance development with environmental conservation.
Information about Devon's protected landscapes is available at https://www.devonlnp.org.uk/devons-environment/landscape/. Information about the Cornwall National Landscape is available at https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/cornwall-national-landscape.
The report says coastal erosion, biodiversity and wider environmental protection will also play a role in determining where development can take place.
Terry Johnson, land consultant at TerraQuest, the operator of Planning Portal, said: "The level of development activity across Devon and Cornwall suggests that there is still strong appetite to bring new development forward. With so much of the region shaped by protected landscapes and a limited supply of developable land, getting the location right will be increasingly important. There is a real opportunity to make better use of existing settlements and support regeneration in places where new development can respond to local needs. As demand for housing, infrastructure and renewable energy continues to grow, alongside increasing calls for greater environmental protection, finding the right balance between the area's unique and sometimes competing needs will be crucial to bringing new development forward."
Housing Plan Submissions Hit Decade High in Devon and Cornwall