by Tony Hazell
Work is about to start on a waterside scheme at Exmouth Harbour which was first granted outline planning permission during the late 1980s.
West Country developer Rockeagle Homes will build 300 homes at the harbour, as well as some commercial property.
During development Rockeagle will gradually buy the 5.66ha (14 acre) site and existing commercial buildings plus pontoons from the existing owner in a deal worth around £5m.
The initial phase of 15 three-storey three- and four-bedroom homes will be followed in the New Year by 24 town houses and flats. Prices are expected to range from £90,000 for smallest of the two-bedroom flats to £90,000 for the largest houses.
Chris Fayers, head of Rockeagle, described the site as outstanding: “The units are on the water’s edge. There is no road between the houses and the beach and there are views of the Exe estuary towards Topsham,” he said.
The initial plans for the site were put to one side after the early 1990s slump. The private company, which still owns most of the site, negotiated the current planning consent.
Development of the whole site will continue into the next century, with future expansion funded by on-site sales. “We specialise in out-of-the-ordinary developments and this will be our largest so far,” said Fayers.
Although Rockeagle will eventually own the site in its entirity, it will put management of the marina out to a specialist company.
