Cllr Philip Vogel to officially open innovative new housing scheme tomorrow

South Devon Rural Housing Association (SDR) and Teignbridge District Council are celebrating the opening of a housing development, which provides much needed accommodation for people with learning disabilities.

Set in the Dartmoor National Park area and close to the historic Buckfast Abbey, Braemar Apartments and Merryfield Barns is a development of six apartments and four cottages that provide independent living for people with learning disabilities leaving residential care or other shared accommodation.

The project was supported by capital funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and Teignbridge District Council, which contributed £20,000.

An official opening ceremony at the site is being held at 12.30pm tomorrow (Thursday 11 July 2013).

Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Spokesperson for Housing and Planning Cllr Phillip Vogel will carry out the honours.

SDR is a small community based organisation, providing housing and other related services to communities. It has worked closely with Camphill Devon, a locally based charity, to enable adults with a learning disability to have the opportunity of living independently for the first time.

SDR Chief Executive Steven Prime said: “I live locally so it is particularly satisfying to see this great housing development finished and fully occupied.  It provides quality, affordable homes for some of the most disadvantaged people in society.”

Cllr Philip Vogel, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Spokesperson for Housing and Planning, said: “I feel honoured to officially open the Braemar development. It ticks so many boxes in terms of providing affordable homes to the most vulnerable, and also allows people to live as independently as possible. Like Mr Prime, I live locally too and I know how much good work Camphill Devon does to help people live and learn.

“It was my association with South Devon Rural Housing and Camphill Devon that, in part, inspired me to champion the need for more affordable housing locally. As a member of Dartmoor National Park Authority I welcome the partnership between Teignbridge, the park authority, SDRHA and Camphill to enable this project to go ahead.

“Teignbridge Council put in £20,000 to this project and we are pleased it was delivered on time and within budget. We hope to support more schemes like this in future.”