She swapped Westminster for a hard hat tour as Caroline Voaden visited a major housing development to see how new homes and jobs are taking shape.
The South Devon MP toured Baker Estates’ Little Cotton Farm site in Dartmouth to view progress on the scheme, which will deliver 416 homes over seven years.
During her visit, Caroline was shown around the development by Graham Hutton and Nicole Stacey from Baker Estates. The group discussed the role the project is playing in providing new housing and attracting investment into the town .
Studies linked to the development indicate it will generate more than £100 million in direct economic investment in Dartmouth and the surrounding area. The figure includes direct and indirect employment on site, the use of regional suppliers and materials, additional council tax revenue for the local authority and increased spending in the town as new residents move in.
Of the 416 homes planned, 126 will be affordable properties delivered by the end of the project.
Under a Section 106 agreement, Baker Estates will contribute £680,000 towards local sports pitches, £52,500 for early years education provision, £70,000 for highway and footway improvements and £50,000 to support the town’s Park & Ride service.
At peak periods, the company has employed up to 100 local subcontractors a day at Little Cotton Farm, including eight apprentices . Among them is George Chandler, a local resident gaining experience on the site. One apprentice working on the development is due to move into one of the new affordable homes.
Graham Hutton, deputy managing director at Baker Estates, said: “We were delighted to show Caroline around our new community. Delivering new homes is about a lot more than bricks and mortar.
“Our developments are primarily responding to local housing needs, but they can also unlock many more benefits for communities. As a housebuilder, it is important to invest time to help local authorities, planners and local people understand the economic benefits of our developments. This may seem obvious but sometimes the connection is missed.”
He added: “When we say that we ‘work’ with local communities, we truly mean it. From our earliest engagement during the planning process, through construction and on to completion, we have collaborated closely with the parish and town councils, as well as all our stakeholders, to create the best new community possible.
“Little Cotton Farm in Dartmouth has been fulfilling an array of local needs, from employment and apprenticeships to housing, infrastructure, transport improvements and a diverse range of wider community benefits.”
Little Cotton Farm forms part of a long-term plan to create a new neighbourhood designed to reflect the character of Dartmouth while preserving the natural beauty of the South Hams. The development includes a mix of open market and affordable homes aimed at enabling people with strong local connections to remain in the town.
Caroline Voaden MP said: “It was a pleasure to visit Baker Estates’ Little Cotton Farm and see the progress being made and talk to some local people who are working on the site, gaining skills and career potential. Access to affordable, quality housing is one of the biggest challenges facing communities like Dartmouth.
“Developments such as this play an important part in ensuring that local people, from young families to downsizers, have the opportunity to stay in the town they know and love – although we know that private housebuilders can never replace the social housing stock that the country has lost and this is a problem the government really needs to get to grips with. The social investments made by housebuilders like Baker Estates are a vital part of new developments like this.”
Once complete, the development will provide a combination of open market and affordable homes, contributing to Dartmouth’s housing supply and forming a new residential community.
