AS part of a Government-led programme, West Devon Borough Council is being asked to assess the amount of land available for housing in their district.

The council has been working to identify all potential development sites for the last few years and is now formalising this work in a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) in partnership with South Hams District Council.

The assessment is being undertaken alongside the council's local development framework to ensure there is sufficient land available to meet the needs of communities both now and in the future.

As part of this process, local landowners and developers are being invited to suggest any sites in the West Devon area which might be suitable for housing development.  

The SHLAA will not alter the Government's overall requirement for housing development in the borough but it will help to ensure that the council has taken every opportunity to identify the most suitable and deliverable sites for housing development.

Any suggested sites for development must be well related to an existing settlement and have the capacity to accommodate at least five dwellings.

There is no guarantee that any site suggested will be allocated for housing development and all sites will be rigorously assessed to determine their suitability for development.

Cllr Diana Moyse, chairman of West Devon Borough Council's future planning and housing committee, said: 'We must stress that putting a site forward in this exercise does not automatically mean that it will be allocated or that its development will be supported by the council. However, all suggestions will be considered.'

The deadline for suggestions for suitable sites within the West Devon area is 4pm on Friday September 12. An application form is available on the website http://www.westdevon.gov.uk">www.westdevon.gov.uk