Sneak peak at Sherford's first homes

Sherford is a new town under construction in Devon, the first homes - out of a total of 5,500 - have been built and we've had a look around.

Work is going on at quite a pace as the three national firms building the homes at Sherford are keen to show what the new town here will have to offer.

First to have a show home ready are Bovis who like their fellow developers have had to take architectural influence from nearby Plympton St Maurice in the house designs.

Wayne Bennett Bovis Homes

Phase one will see around 600 homes built over the next four years. In that time one of the three primary schools planned for the town will be open.

This town is going to be quite different to new builds elsewhere. There will be lots of open space, wide pavements to give it a less closed in feel.

A fifth of all homes will be for shared ownership or social housing.

As the town has taken so long to get to this stage all involved have had time to try to create the best chances for a community to develop.

Clare Brimble, Taylor Wimpey Homes

Five and a half thousand homes on what are largely green fields did cause protest in the past.

But this will be a proper town if it follows the plan with a High Street, secondary school, leisure centre and industrial units.