Mid Devon District Council will demolish 22 of its social houses as part of redevelopment plans.

The social houses are located in three locations in the Lowman area of ​​Tiverton, Bampton and Cheriton Fitzpaine.

A scrutiny committee heard on Monday that the houses would be demolished in the coming weeks and replaced with new homes.

Housing and health chief Simon Newcombe said Home England was contributing to the cost of replacing demolished properties.

The city council has not identified the exact streets to prevent properties from being attacked by squatters, the Local Democracy Reporting Service saying.

Newcombe said it could often be beneficial to demolish properties, especially those on larger plots, as it could mean more houses are rebuilt in their place.

“In addition, at the moment, Homes England is contributing to the cost of replacing the ones we are demolishing and adding in their place,” he said.

“So if we tear down one and put four in there, we get funding for those four, and that wasn’t the case until recently.

“But the government has changed and Homes England has recognized that redeveloping and regenerating social housing provides a benefit.”

Newcome said that in addition to the 22 buildings slated for demolition, another six were empty.

The council also has 50 more empty properties where improvement works are being carried out, such as asbestos removal.

Newcombe said some properties could end up void for longer periods than expected, including because residents are in care or during the probate process when a tenant has died.