Council's Sidmouth and Ottery land plea for affordable homes

LAND-OWNERS and farmers in Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary have been asked to their property in a bid to tackle the region s affordable housing shortage.

LAND-OWNERS and farmers in Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary have been asked to their property in a bid to tackle the region's affordable housing shortage.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) says it is offering a "unique opportunity" for land-owners to bring forward "small parcels" of land on green field sites so up to 15 dwellings, a mixture of open market and affordable homes, can be built.

EDDC has agreed an 'interim mixed affordable and market housing position statement' aimed at tackling the shortage of affordable homes in parts of the district.

The council said one-third of homes would be sold on the open market and the other two-thirds would be affordable housing.

The offer to land-owners will be open until autumn.

Councillor Jill Elson, EDDC's portfolio holder for communities, said: "This is a ground-breaking project and an example of how creative councils must be if we are to really tackle the serious shortages of affordable housing.

"We need our rural villages to be viable in order to preserve the school, the shop and the pub. If we are to achieve this, we must make it possible for people - especially young locals, to stay in our villages.

"I would urge any land-owners who feel they have a site that might be suitable to come forward and talk to our housing and planning teams."

Contact EDDC's housing enabling officer, Paul Lowe, on (01395) 516551 for more information.