FABULOUS newly-built flats overlooking the Tavistock Canal were handed over to their new tenants this week.
West Devon's new mayor Robin Pike presented Kimberly Pollard, one of the new young tenants, the keys to her one bedroom flat at a special ceremony on Monday.
The ceremony marked the 'launch' of the new flats and West Devon Homes' new offices alongside the town's new library. Ms Pollard said: 'I'm very excited, really, really pleased, it's very nice. I'm so happy, it's just brilliant.'
West Devon Homes is aiming to redress the lack of affordable homes in the borough.
Spokesperson Lisa Veysey said the development, on the site of the old Carr's garage, comprised six one bedroom and four two bedroom units. They were built at a cost of £560,000 with grant support from the Housing Corporation to keep rents within the reach of people on low incomes.
She said the flats had been allocated using a newly-introduced Local Lettings Policy‚ which provided priority to a mix of younger people and those without children requiring two bedroom accommodation. All prospective occupants had been drawn from the Council's Housing Register.
Ms Veysey said: 'The flats represent the first newly built homes to be completed by West Devon Homes since transfer of the ownership and management of the council's former housing stock, and will hopefully be the first of many to be built in partnership with the borough council.'
West Devon Homes' new offices are part of the same development complex which will also house Capita managed services, West Devon Borough Council revenues and benefit client unit and West Devon Care and Repair. The overall cost of the development, including the flats, is about £1.6 million.
Stuart Davies, chief executive of West Devon Homes, said: 'We believe our new location will raise the profile of West Devon Homes and the services we provide.'
Since taking control of West Devon's housing stock in 1999, WDH has instigated a programme of 'catch up‚ repair and improvements', and is creating new housing for those in need.
It has spent more than £4 million on repairs and improvements. It has also bought 15 houses on the open market and built 26 new homes. It has plans for another 70 homes across West Devon.