WORK is due to start this month on the delivery of new council homes in the centre of Newton Abbot.

The Sherborne House Car Park project will deliver 23 high-quality social rented flats comprising of 13, one-bedroom and 10, two-bedroom homes in the heart of the town, with easy access to public transport, shops, and services.

The scheme will make good use of brownfield land while contributing to the council’s wider ambitions to increase housing supply and support local communities.

Funding for the project has come from a £2.7m grant from the Homes England Affordable Homes Programme and £525,000 from the Brownfield Land Release Fund, supported by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG); and delivered by One Public Estate (OPE).

The building contract has been awarded to a locally based contractor, Nevada Construction.

Preparatory activity will begin ahead of construction, and the council is working closely with Nevada to minimise disruption as far as possible.

Measures will be put in place to manage noise, deliveries and site safety during the build.

Cllr Richard Buscombe, Executive Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: ‘We are pleased to see work getting under way at Sherborne House Car Park, which represents real progress in delivering new homes on a well located town centre site.

‘Projects like this are vital in helping us meet local housing needs.

‘We appreciate that construction activity can cause some temporary disruption, and I would like to thank local residents and businesses in advance for their patience and understanding while the work takes place.

‘We will continue to keep people informed as the build progresses’.

Teignbridge Council says it will provide updates for residents as the project moves forward and will liaise with nearby neighbours throughout the construction period.