EIGHT new affordable homes could be built in Branscombe within the next 18 months.

EIGHT new affordable homes could be built in Branscombe within the next 18 months.

Proposals for the three-bedroom houses were unveiled at a public meeting held in the village last week.

John Taylor, chairman of the Village Housing Guild (VHG), which is behind the plans, said a need for affordable housing had been identified in the village and the company was keen to progress the project as fast as it could.

The houses would be built on land behind the Fountain Head pub and would include car parking spaces, which Mr Taylor believed were vital.

He also said in addition to this he hopes to create extra parking spaces dotted throughout the village.

Initially the houses will be for rent only at an approximate cost of �80 per week.

Paul Lowe, East Devon District Council's housing enabling officer, said because of the current economic climate it would not be feasible to introduce shared ownership when the houses are built.

But he added that once the market improved and it was easier for young people and first-time buyers to obtain mortgages, those people renting the property would have the 'right to aquire'.

Early plans for the houses which were drawn up by the VHG have now been scrapped after they were scrutinized by local representatives.

Mr Taylor said the new proposals will be "a little more Branscombe in character".

Speaking after the meeting John Bass, chairman of Branscombe Parish Council, said: "I was pleased that there was quite a good turnout and it was nice to see some young couple here.

"Not everybody may need a three bedroom house but it would be possible to enable some other youngsters to move here."

"If it all goes ahead it will help to ease car parking problems that we have around that area in the village. It ticks all the boxes."

District councillor Mike Green, a driving force behind the project, said: "It was a very positive evening and I'm completely confident that the project will be successful."

Andrew Gibbins, who owns the proposed site for the new homes, said: "We support the scheme and having lived in the village all of my life, and wanting to raise my family here, I realised it is important to have young people in the village to keep the school numbers up and support local businesses.