We have exciting news!
With the legal contracts now signed off, and a contractor appointed, within the next few weeks, we will have a “start-on-site” to celebrate. Poltair, a local construction company that specialises in social housing developments, began putting spades in the ground on 16 March, 2026.
How long will the building take?
On Monday, 2 March, members of the ICLT board met with representatives from Poltair Construction, Gates Consultancy, which manages the project, and Aster Housing Group, which will manage the development upon its completion in early summer 2027.
A great benefit of Poltair being a local firm is that they are already very familiar with the site itself, aware of the challenges it poses, and aware of the rewards it will offer tenants when they arrive. They are well-acquainted with the practicalities they must navigate to complete the build, and, being a local firm, they are well connected to the supply chain of materials and tradespeople they will need
How to apply for a home
All homes will be released for occupation simultaneously.
The Board and members will take no part in the allocation of the homes. The process for all socially rented accommodation is via Devon Home Choice and the provider, in this instance, Aster Housing Association. It is vital that people with housing needs are registered with Devon Home Choice, so do encourage people to complete an application form or visit the Ilfracombe Community Land Trust website for more information. There is a question-and-answer section on the website that explains how and where to apply. These homes will be for people with a local Ilfracombe connection, and it will be Devon Home Choice's responsibility to ensure these criteria are met when assessing applications.
While the building is happening...
A representative from the ICLT will attend the regular monthly project meetings and site visits whilst the build takes place, and will have an opportunity to provide feedback on progress to the board and members. Throughout construction, Poltair will liaise with neighbours to ensure that the build goes smoothly and causes as little disruption as possible.
We hope that you share our excitement. This has been a long time coming, and the Board has worked tremendously hard to bring it to fruition. We also thank members for their support and look forward to sharing an update with you at the AGM on 19 May (see here for more details)
