Frustration over wait for shops in new town

A temporary convenience store remains closed in Sherford due to power supply issues

Residents of a £1bn new town in Devon have complained of a "ludicrous" wait for shops nine years after construction on the housing development began.

More than 3,000 people now live in Sherford, near Plymouth, after work began in 2015 to build homes, shops and other facilities, according to the developer.

But residents said they were frustrated as no shops other than a coffee shop were open for business.

The Sherford Consortium, the partnership building the project, said plans for shops were moving forward.

Sherford resident Lindsay Britain said the lack of shops was frustrating

Sherford currently has a cafe and a temporary convenience shop has been built.

However, the convenience store - which was due to open last year - remains closed due to power supply issues.

According to the plans, the site will have 5,500 homes for about 12,000 residents when completed.

Sherford residents said the nearest shop to them was a Co-op in Elburton, a 25-minute walk away.

Resident Lindsay Britain said the lack of shops in the town was frustrating.

"It is frustrating because we got told there would be one quite a few years ago," she said.

Fellow resident Fran Cook added: "It's ludicrous, they promised all these things for Sherford and are still building houses, but there doesn't seem to be any plans for any shops or anything."

Fran Cook said "there doesn't seem to be any plans for any shops"

Concerns have also been raised about the lack of a local shop by members of Plymouth City Council and South Hams District Council, which have shared authority in the area.

Julie Carson, South Hams councillor for Wembury and Brixton, said: "It's been promised and promised and promised and we've still only got a coffee shop here.

"The temporary convenience store should have opened late last year and for various reasons, there's still no electricity to the particular site."

'Contracts being negotiated'

A Sherford Consortium spokesperson said they were working hard to bring shops to the town.

They added plans for shops to be built were moving forward.

"Contracts are being negotiated for the sale of land to a renowned commercial developer to build Sherford's first local centre, which will include shops and other facilities at the heart of the community," they said.