Detailed plans for more than 200 affordable eco homes that aim to address the housing crisis in a town will be unveiled this week.

Smart Community Projects will be bringing its vision of Watton Village to Bridport residents at a public consultation to see the plans and express their views.

Directors aim to solve the housing crisis by building this £50 million prototype eco village at the base of Watton Hill of St Andrews Road, with more than 200 homes, of which 82 per cent will be affordable rentals.

Smart Community Projects state that 426 households are ‘stuck’ on the Bridport housing register, with more than one million families currently on the waiting list for social housing in England.

Roy Mathisen, Bridport resident and project director, said: "It is critical for the prosperity of the local community that the house crisis in Bridport is addressed and it is the mission of this project to do that in an sustainable and environmentally friendly way.”

The project directors say that every home will have its own built in PV panels, water conservation system and heat recovery. The development is expected to generate almost double the power it needs and the surplus will be stored in lithium batteries to be sold to the grid at times of peak demand.

They predict that energy costs for every resident will be far lower than standard homes, enabling low income families to have more disposable income, supporting Bridport’s economy.

Project director Vince Adams said: “This is a community inspired development created by a not for profit team who above all want it to benefit the people of Bridport, the planet we all live on and inspire the nation to tackle the injustice of not being able to live affordably.”

The exhibition will reveal architectural drawings and designs, the ecological build approach and plans to plant 5,000 new trees to create a wildlife-friendly, green environment.

Jonathan Lovett, project director and architect, said: “Watton Village will be a fine place to live with well-made, highly insulated, passive homes in a beautifully landscaped setting on the edge of the town of Bridport.

“It will be a beacon to illustrate the aspirations and ambitions of local community and a truly pioneering contribution to housing opportunities nationally.”

The Watton Village exhibition will be held at Bridport Town Hall. Doors open on Friday, February 14 at 7pm with a welcome address from supporter and former mayor, Cllr Ros Kayes, followed by a question and answer session with the project directors.

On Saturday from 10.30am, meet architect Jonathan Lovett and landscape specialist Aileen Shackell, both will be taking questions from the public. The exhibition will be open until 4pm, as well as from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, February 16.

For more information, visit smartcommunityprojects.org.uk