Councils join forces to provide homes in Barnstaple

Two councils with land next to each other in Barnstaple are to join forces to market it for housing.

North Devon Council’s unused 0.6 acre in St George’s Road and the plot of the former Devon County Council social services offices next to it will be sold as one plot, subject to planning permission, extending the size to over two acres.

Seventy per cent of the income from the sale will go to the county council, with the remainder to the district council which has requested that an affordable housing scheme is considered.

The county council is making a pre-application enquiry with a view to applying to North Devon Council for planning permission.

North Devon’s strategy and resources committee was told that DCC intends to apply to the brownfield land release fund to support the cost of demolishing the former offices.

In a report to members it said that DCC is open to an affordable housing scheme but wished to market the site openly to ensure ‘best value’.

A brownfield site of two acres in Barnstaple is likely to be worth in the region of £400,000 and have space for 30 to 35 starter and family homes, according to local estate agents Philip Smith and Dunn.

Cllr Malcolm Prowse (Ind, Bratton Fleming) said he hoped a good quality housing scheme would result from this and they could ‘steer it in the right direction’ to get the right level of affordable housing.