Plans for £100 million housing scheme in east Devon approved
500 "high-quality" and "energy efficient" homes will be built by 2030
A new housing scheme costing £100 million has been given the green light from East Devon District Council.
A total of 500 new homes will be built over the next five years, after councillors approved the large-scale development scheme.
The aim of the houses is to be of "high quality", as well as being "energy efficient", in what the council has termed "one of the most significant housing commitments ever made".
The plans were also approved in order to tackle housing pressures that have been hitting the east Devon area, with the average house price standing at £346,000 - over ten times the normal salary in the area.
A mixture of two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes will be built across the area, with affordable rents being a key feature of the new homes.
Of the 500 homes planned, 250 are to be built on council-owned land, and will be built by transforming estates that are currently in use, as well as regenerating disused sites.
The remaining 250 will be built thanks to various collaborative deals together with developers and housing providers.
Speaking on the move, Councillor Dan Ledger from East Devon District Council explained: "This is one of the most significant housing commitments ever made by East Devon District Council. We’re not just building houses; we’re creating communities where people can feel proud to live.
"The plan marks a turning point in how we work with and support residents, especially as it has shaped by extensive community feedback from our Housing Strategy consultation.
"Safe, secure and affordable housing underpins a thriving community, and this programme reflects our shared ambition to provide the right homes, in the right places, with the right support."