Affordable homes one step closer as ground broken at West Clyst

Councillors from East Devon District Council (EDDC) and Broadclyst Parish Council joined housing association Sovereign to celebrate work starting on 69 new affordable and highly sustainable homes on the edge of Exeter.  

Ground was broken by Cllr Olly Davey, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning at EDDC, alongside the Chair of Broadclyst Parish Council, Henry Massey.  

The homes at Moonhill Rise will be the first built to the highest rating in Sovereign’s Homes and Place Standard for sustainable homes, which was created alongside Sovereign customers.  

Future households will benefit from a design which exceeds national space standards, includes increased storage, and promotes lots of natural daylight. The homes will also be efficient to run with improved insulation, air source heat pumps and photovoltaic solar panels, making them even more sustainable and affordable.  

James Gibson, Regional Development Director at Sovereign said: “We are delighted to celebrate the beginning of what is designed to be a thriving community for many decades. It’s always an exciting moment as work gets underway on a place that will become people’s home, but this is even more exciting as these will be the first homes built to match our bold new sustainability and customer wellbeing ambitions.  

“We know that many people need an affordable place to live, so we’d encourage anyone who may have a place that could become new homes to contact us. In doing so, and by working with us, they’ll be part of a growing legacy which is delivering more affordable, sustainable homes for people who need them.” 

Cllr Olly Davey, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning at EDDC said: "I'm pleased to have been invited to see the start of this new development of high quality affordable homes which will make an important contribution to the need for more homes in the housing association rental and shared ownership sector." 

Mat Vye, Associate Director at E G Carter and Company Ltd said: “We are delighted to have commenced another highly sustainable land led development on behalf of Sovereign and we look forward to welcoming residents to their new homes”. 

The completed homes will include one and two-bed maisonettes, bungalows and two-four bed houses. Once completed, the homes will be available for either shared ownership or social rent. The development is expected to complete by summer 2026.