A granite stone has been unveiled to mark the official completion of a major housing development in Budleigh Salterton.

The Horizon development, at Greenway Lane, consists of 48 properties, with 19 designated as affordable, which have been built on a site formerly occupied by allotments.

To allow the construction to take place, new allotments were provided next door.

The development is one of two major projects civic leaders hoped would meet Budleigh’s need for new homes, along with a development of 59 homes which has received planning permission on a site by the B3178.

The stone to mark Horizon’s completion was unveiled by Lord Clinton, whose Clinton Devon Estates has carried out the development in a joint venture partnership with Cavanna Homes.

The head of property and land for Clinton Devon Estates, Leigh Rix, said: “Our vision was to provide a good mix of well-designed new homes and more allotment space to meet the specific needs of this community.

“With clever master planning by LHC Architecture, and working closely with our construction partner Cavanna Homes and Cornerstone housing association, we have delivered 40 per cent affordable housing as well as increasing the [number of] allotments from 56 to 87.”

East Devon district councillor and Budleigh Salterton town councillor Tom Wright said: “This development has not only provided much-needed housing in the area, but the new and improved allotments have helped to form a real sense of community among the gardeners, with the allotments now acting as a hub of social activity.”

Fred Sureshkumar, head of construction for Cavanna Homes, said: “It is fantastic to see this development complete and we are pleased to say that there is now only one home that has not yet been sold.”

Rick Williams, chief executive of Cornerstone housing association, which manages the affordable housing at Horizon, said: “Rural communities such as Budleigh Salterton are finding it increasingly difficult to provide homes for younger people, which results in them having to move away, often to a city, to find their first home.”