‘Local homes guarantee’ as housebuilder unveils plans for Newton Abbot site

A local developer in the South West is to guarantee that a majority of new homes on its proposed site in Newton Abbot will be ringfenced for local residents to reserve for the first eight weeks on sale.

Persimmon Homes South West has unveiled its plans for land off Kingskerswell Road at Langford Bridge, which would see the delivery of 40 high-quality and sustainable new homes for local people.

If planning permission for the first phase of development is secured, the housebuilder’s ‘local homes guarantee’ will provide people living within the Council area first refusal on a majority of properties at the site for the first eight weeks during the launch months of April and May.

To support Teignbridge’s declaration of a climate emergency, a carbon reduction plan has also been submitted by the housebuilder with the application. The development will be a no-gas site with zero-carbon ready homes powered by ground-source heat pumps. Secure cycle storage, EV charging points, and high-quality materials will further enhance the sustainability of the site.

The proposed site is allocated in the local plan and would help meet Teignbridge District Council’s five-year housing land supply while addressing local housing needs, with 1,033 local people currently waiting on the authority’s housing list.

As part of Persimmon’s broader contribution to the local community, the builder will also transfer eight quality new homes to a social housing provider for affordable rent and shared ownership for local people. Additional expenditure within Newton Abbot will also be provided to support local services and maintain the vitality of the town.

Commenting on the housebuilder’s proposals, Persimmon Homes South West’s Managing Director, Dan Heathcote, said:

“We are delighted to unveil our plans for our proposed new site at Langford Bridge on the outskirts of Newton Abbot, which will include a pioneering local homes guarantee.

“Persimmon is proud of our record in supporting local first-time buyers, families, and young people to buy their own home, and our plans for this high-quality, zero-carbon ready site in Newton Abbot are no different.

“As part of our proposals and commitment to the local community, we will implement a local homes guarantee which will see us ringfence the majority of homes at the site for local people to reserve for the first eight weeks of sale.

“If approved, the no-gas site would importantly help meet Teignbridge District Council’s five-year housing land supply, with an appropriate combination of properties that will help address the housing needs of the local area.

“We look forward to progressing with our planning application as we seek to deliver quality, sustainable homes and leave a positive lasting legacy for local people at the Langford Bridge site.”

The high-quality design for the site will retain and enhance the significant ecological interests and will invest in sustainable drainage and transport infrastructure. The scheme will also see the delivery of a new bus route to serve the development, and a financial contribution will be made to assist in setting up the additional bus service.

The proposal will also provide public open space to allow residents to roam freely, secures the retention and maintenance of important wildlife corridors, and delivers significant biodiversity enhancements, with bird boxes installed and bat roosts provided adjacent to the site.