Hundreds of people are living at one of England's most significant housing and employment schemes 3 years after building started.
Investment from the government has unlocked a hugely successful phase of housebuilding and development at Cranbrook in east Devon, where partners are working to create a sustainable new community of 6,500 homes and a similar number of jobs.
More than 800 new homes, a community centre and school teaching more than 300 pupils have been completed at Cranbrook and it is expected that around 1,000 houses will be ready for occupation at the start of 2015.
This is a shining example of how developments can benefit communities by providing much needed new homes and support economic growth by attracting further investment and jobs.
The majority of people moving to Cranbrook are from Devon and families are taking well to life in their new surroundings.
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has invested more than £16 million in the first phase of affordable housing at Cranbrook and a further £20 million in a new education complex and town centre in the project’s second phase, which has played an essential part in speeding up the rate of housebuilding on the site.
HCA executive director for the South and South West Colin Molton said: "Cranbrook is an amazing success story and a testament to the commitment that partners have shown to get all the elements in place to make this the successful project that it is.
"It took years to get to the stage where building work was able to start, but investment in vital infrastructure such as the school and the town centre has helped to maintain momentum and support the growth of new homes in Exeter and east Devon."
