THE earliest residents of the vast new town of Sherford could move in as early as January following the completion of the first of 5,500 homes planned for the site.

Representatives of Devon, Plymouth and South Hams Councils alongside members of the Sherford Consortium unveiled the first two show homes last week, before the doors were opened to potential buyers on Saturday.

The consortium of Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Taylor Wimpey is working together to build the new town, although the first two homes were constructed by Bovis. The company’s Wayne Bennett, the consortium’s sales and marketing manager, called the first homes ’a significant moment in the history of Sherford’.

Around 600 homes are to be built in the first phase of development, as well as a range of new amenities and commercial buildings.

So far two of the three builders, Bovis and Linden, have released prices for the open market housing.

The cheapest home currently offered on Bovis’ website is a two-bedroom ’flat over garage’, described as a coach house, for £219,995. For those on a budget, Linden are offering a one-bedroom ground floor flat for £174,950.

At the other end of the spectrum, one of the two show homes, a six-bedroom, end terrace property is available at £464,995 from Bovis. Linden’s choice of four-bedroom properties range from £334,950 to £399,950.

Mr Bennett said the affordable housing in the development was being constructed at the same time as open market properties, with each developer to use a different provider to offer homes to those who needed them. 20 per cent of Sherford’s homes are to be affordable under the definition given in the 2012 National Planning Policy Framework.

He also said delivery and timing of promised infrastructure like schools and a leisure centre was set in stone through a Section 106 agreement with planning authorities, and did not depend on how fast homes were sold, or fluctuation in house prices.

Mr Bennett said: ’Opening the doors of the first homes is a significant moment in the history of Sherford, having spent over two decades in planning. The result of much hard work and craftsmanship, the public will be able to see the true extent of the work which has taken place on site.

’Broadly, Sherford has taken design inspiration from Plympton St Maurice, and we’ve incorporated Georgian features like extra height in the ceilings. So these three storey houses are equivalent to the height of a ’normal’ four storey.

’There’s been a bit of speculation on pricing, but the prices will be about equivalent to Elburton, which is the closest existing area.

’As we’re delivering the private housing, we’re building the affordable housing too. We’re building 1,000 affordable homes, with lots of different mechanisms for people to get affordable housing - shared ownership, rented etc. The private houses will also be available through Help to Buy.

’If you want to live in a suburban town, Plympton, Plymstock and Ivybridge have all more or less reached their limit in terms of new houses being built there. Sherford homes will look different, taking the eye back to the grandeur of yesteryear, with features you’d normally only get in much older buildings.

’We expect the first primary school at the beginning of 2018, and in two years’ time we’ll also have a sports complex and leisure centre. The plan is not just to build homes, we want to phase in the infrastructure as houses are build.

’Through the Section 106 agreements we’ve signed, we’re already committed to providing all this at specific times.’

Cllr Michael Hicks of South Hams Council’s said: ’After more than 20 years in planning I cannot express how pleased I am to see Sherford finally open for sales. I know that there have been many concerns locally about Sherford over the years, but let us not forget that Sherford is about building local homes for local people, meeting the housing need for the future.

’It’s about jobs and opportunities both during construction, and once the town is fully open. Today let’s celebrate the awakening of Sherford -a new town for both Plymouth and the South Hams.’