Most of a new major 60-home development planned for the town will be ‘affordable’ - with priority given to Budleigh Salterton familes.

Squirrel Design unveiled their intention to build 54 houses and six flats at a recent town council meeting.

The project will be on a wedge of land owned by Doctor David Evans, sandwiched between the B3178 and Hooker Close.

And now the architects are inviting residents to have their say on the development, which will consist of 40 two-bedroom houses, 14 three-bedroom houses and six flats.

While the project is only at concept stage and formal discussions with East Devon planners have only just begun, Squirrel Design say they intend a series of public consultations before applying for planning approval.

Michael O’Connor, principal of Squirrel Design Consultants Limited, said: “Any comments from the readers of the Budleigh Journal would be welcome at this concept stage.”

The development will be built on a ‘gentle slope’ and Mr O’Connor said it would enable the homes to ‘nestle into the existing townscape and landscape’.

The development will have a network of paved avenues with a central line of trees and shrubs to ‘provide a pleasant and verdant outlook’.

Every home will have its own off-road parking space. All houses will have a back garden with storage for bicycles and garden tools, as well as solar hot water heating panels.

Mr O’Connor added: “The majority of the units will be affordable houses with priority for occupation given to local people who live and work in the area.

“The houses will be within walking distance of schools, shops, bus routes and the town’s facilities. The National Cycle Network route NCN2 could be extended along the north west border of the site to provide a much wider environmentally sustainable access to other areas.”