VILLAGERS are about to start negotiating over a multi-million development project that none of them want.

Around one third of the village population turned out last week to hear Cavanna Homes spell out its development brief for 50 new homes to be built on the edge of Blackawton.

Now the villagers are putting together a 'stakeholder' team to continue talks with the developers to hammer out some sort of deal for the village as part of the development.

They could include major improvements to the village school, affordable housing for local families and homes for people to retire to, said Blackawton's parish council chairman Alan Mallyon.

'We don't want an estate with 50 homes jammed on it,' he said. 'It needs to blend in with the rest of the village and not just look like it has been stuck on the side like a carbuncle.'

The approved development plan for Blackawton has earmarked a 7.5 acre site at Towns Farm on the edge of the village for a development involving 50 new homes, a new school, employment units, play provision and public open space.

The village has already protested over the number of the proposed homes which will increase the size of Blackawton by around one third overnight.

And a questionnaire which went out to parishioners some two years ago confirmed their objections, said Cllr Mallyon.

'There was a 100 per cent objection to a development of this size. We feel there is going to be a huge impact on the village itself. Our representations to the planning inspector were overturned and the site was officially accepted and we have now got to make the best of it,' he said.

Cavanna Homes has still to get planning permission for the scheme but more than 100 people turned out for the public meeting at which team from Torquay-based builder explained the planning brief.

The village is now planning to put together a group made up of villagers and parish councillors to meet with Cavanna Homes later this month to start negotiating over what the development can bring to the village.

Cllr Mallyon pointed out that the development plan included a new primary school but the county council has made it clear that will not happen for at least another 10 years.

As a result the development could end up funding a new classroom at the existing village school as well as a drop-off point and a playground.

He added: 'We desperately need starter homes for first-time buyers and homes where people can retire to because so many people want to downsize and stay in the village but there is nowhere for them and they have to move to Dartmouth.'

He said Cavanna had not committed to a level of affordable housing that would be included within the development.