Mid Devon District Council has completed its latest development of high‑quality, energy‑efficient council homes at Eastlands, Hemyock.

The modular homes provide much‑needed affordable housing for local people and mark another milestone in the Council’s ambitious programme of new-build social housing in partnership with ZED PODS LTD.

The Eastlands development has transformed a former area of underused garages and parking into five modern homes. The development comprises three 2‑bedroom and two 3‑bedroom houses, each with private gardens, and a total of 16 car parking spaces, including 9 unallocated spaces to the north of the site.

Despite periods of heavy rain and storms extending some of the final landscaping, the project was completed in just five months following the arrival of the factory-built modules in September 2025. Access to the rural site also presented challenges, with narrow lanes and tight access down Combe Hill and through the village requiring highly coordinated delivery and logistics.

The homes will be available this spring for people on Devon Home Choice with a local connection.

Councillor Jane Lock, Cabinet Member for Housing, Assets and Property Services, said:

“These new homes at Eastlands are a clear example of the Council delivering high‑quality social housing where it is needed most. With more than a thousand people on our housing register, developments like this make a real and immediate difference to local families.

“By using modern modular construction, we can provide sustainable, energy‑efficient homes more quickly while reducing disruption for existing residents. I’m delighted to see these homes ready for local people this spring.

I would also like to give my thanks to local residents for being so supportive of the project throughout and for their understanding when the modules were delivered.”

Construction of the modules for Eastlands was also delivered through the Prisoners Building Homes (PBH) programme. Four day‑release prisoners worked with factory teams to build the homes, gaining paid employment, practical qualifications and valuable experience that supports rehabilitation and reduces reoffending.

The Council’s engagement with PBH has also unlocked more than £0.5 million in additional government funding for future council housing schemes across Mid Devon.

Tom Northway, Chairman, ZED PODS LTD, said:

“Eastlands is one of many small sites we are aggregating for the Council across Mid Devon. It demonstrates how small rural sites can be unlocked to deliver well-designed, energy-efficient homes for local communities.”

The Council is currently developing eight other sites and working on proposals for an additional five across the district, with the potential to deliver more than 90 homes - information on all of these schemes is available on the Mid Devon Housing Development Hub.