Work is due to start this month on the delivery of new council homes at Sherborne House Car Park, in Newton Abbot, marking an important next step in Teignbridge District Council’s plans to provide much-needed affordable housing in the district.
The project will deliver 23 high-quality social rented flats comprising of 13 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom homes in the heart of the town, with easy access to public transport, shops, and services. The scheme will make good use of brownfield land while contributing to the council’s wider ambitions to increase housing supply and support local communities.
Funding for the project has come from a £2.7m grant from the Homes England Affordable Homes Programme and £525,000 from the Brownfield Land Release Fund, supported by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG); and delivered by One Public Estate (OPE).
The building contract has been awarded to a locally based contractor, Nevada Construction. Preparatory activity will begin ahead of construction, and the council is working closely with Nevada to minimise disruption as far as possible. Measures will be put in place to manage noise, deliveries and site safety during the build.
Cllr Richard Buscombe, Executive Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “We’re pleased to see work getting under way at Sherborne House Car Park, which represents real progress in delivering new homes on a well located town centre site. Projects like this are vital in helping us meet local housing needs.
“We appreciate that construction activity can cause some temporary disruption, and I would like to thank local residents and businesses in advance for their patience and understanding while the work takes place. We will continue to keep people informed as the build progresses.”
Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England said: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting Teignbridge District Council to achieve their ambitions.
“The Sherborne House car park development is prime example of how we are working collaboratively with partners, through the Affordable Homes Programme, to create thriving communities people can be proud of.”
Paul Britton, One Public Estate Lead for the South West said: “The purpose of the Brownfield Land Release Fund is to help unlock council sites for new homes across the country. What makes this development so special is that it not only provides 100% affordable homes, but it will be built to the very highest environmental standards.”
Richard Towl, Director of Nevada Construction said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver this Passivhaus project for Teignbridge District Council, marking our second such high-performance building within the region. The partnership underscores our shared commitment to sustainable delivery and carbon reduction, ensuring that we construct energy efficient spaces which benefit both the community and the environment. By adhering to the rigorous Passivhaus standards, we will be supporting the council’s environmental goals, whilst also creating essential new homes in Newton Abbot.”
The council will provide updates for residents as the project moves forward and will liaise with nearby neighbours throughout the construction period.
