South Hams District Council has approved proposals for a number of commercial development opportunities.

The projects require a capital investment of £20.86m, including the granting of leases in excess of 15 years where applicable.

The proposals were approved by the South Hams Executive Committee on Thursday morning, and include: a hotel on the land at Ropewalk, Kingsbridge; a two-storey office on a brown field site at Steamer Quay, Totnes; acquiring 30 acres of commercial land on the new Sherford development; tourist accommodation in the form of beach huts at Beesands; a single car park deck added onto Shadycombe car park, Salcombe; a new workshop for the Salcombe Harbour Authority at Batson; the development of employment units, Batson; and agreeing to continue with plans for the Dartmouth Health and Wellbeing Centre.

The executive committee was also due to approve the concept of a supermarket on the site of Leonard’s Road car park in Ivybridge, which is land owned by the council.

However, the decision was deferred until the next executive meeting to allow further discussions to take place as councillors raised serious concerns that there is already a lack of car parking in the town.

No operator for the budget supermarket has officially been named, but councillors at the meeting said they would welcome an Aldi, before quickly correcting themselves and mentioning other budget supermarkets.

More information on each of these proposals will appear in the paper next Friday, December 21.