WORK is set to start on a £1.4-milliom scheme to build ten new affordable homes for rent and shared ownership for local people at Abbey Rise, Tavistock.

Affordable housing provider Tor Homes, part of the Devon and Cornwall Housing Group, has bought the 0.152-hectare site and appointed the Leadbitter Group to build the new homes.

Funded by grants from the Homes and Community Agency and West Devon Borough Council, the homes are expected to be finished towards the end of this year.

Howard Toplis, chief executive for Tor Homes said: 'It's great to see this much needed development about to get under way. High property prices and a shortage of affordable housing make it increasingly difficult for people to find a home of their own within their means.'

The scheme will include four two-bedroomed houses and three three-bedroomed houses for rent and three two-bedroomed houses to be offered on a shared ownership basis.

Cllr Diana Moyse, the chair of the borough council's future planning and housing committee, said the borough council was pleased that funding had been approved for the scheme. 'It will provide much-needed homes to help meet the needs of local people in West Devon.'

Land registry prices in September 2010 show that average house prices in West Devon were £162,610, almost nine times average incomes. 

The rented homes will be let through Devon Home Choice, a new system for allocating social housing throughout Devon.  For more details see http://www.devonhomeschoice.com">www.devonhomeschoice.com or phone 01822 813600.