SOUTH Hams Eco Developments held a public consultation last week, with a steady stream of people coming to view the plans.

The proposed site at the end of Wallingford Road in Kingsbridge is steeply sloping and is currently being used for horse grazing. The proposed development would see 56 new houses be built with 35 per cent affordable housing with ‘custom build’ options.

The amount of affordable housing in the proposed scheme is higher than most other developments, with most being around the 25 per cent area and K1 in Kingsbridge looking at around 11 per cent.

The original proposal by the developers was to include a reasonably high proportion of self- build plots so that people could increase the capital value of their plots through their own labour.

However, as the project has developed, there have been several concerns raised over the notion of pure self-build, and the current proposal would be to offer ‘custom build’ as an option.

Custom build can accommodate a range of input from the new owner. It is envisaged that there will be two options available on the site. In the first scenario, the new owner will purchase a competed shell, with the roof, walls and windows complete, and they would then be able to finish the inside of the building to their requirements, design and budget.

In the alternative option the purchaser will be involved in the design, having an input in the internal layout and specification. This therefore giving them a say over the cost of the building, and also creating a space that is appropriate to their requirements.

With one of the SHED partners, Matt Farrand, being a renewable energy expert, there is a focus on providing energy efficient and eco-friendly homes, which in turn are cheaper to run.

The new development is comprised of mainly attached and detached houses with some flats. The terraced houses are located mainly on the lower part of the site where they reflect the existing terraced houses and local character of Wallingford Road.

There are larger semi-detached and detached houses on the more elevated parts of the site. These new homes in particular will enjoy more space around them and views back across town and the estuary beyond.

Matt, along with partners Mike Derry and Johnny Stilwell spoke to members of the public at the consultation and took comments and enquiries.

Matt said: ‘Thank you to everyone that turned up to the consultation. We are genuinely digesting all the comments, positive and negative, and trying to see whether things can be altered in view of what people have said to us.’

The next step is to go forward with an outline planning application to South Hams District Council.