The South Hams is a very special place with beautiful coast and countryside and lively towns and villages. About a third of the population live in the four main towns of Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Dartmouth and Totnes which all have a distinctive community identity and a strong local focus. The remaining population live in more rural villages and hamlets.

The South Hams district offers its residents a good quality of life and is attractive to people seeking retirement. Unemployment is low, it is a safe and healthy place to live with a beautiful natural environment but there are also challenges facing the area.

Wages are lower than average but house prices are above average, making it hard for local people to buy homes. The need for affordable housing is exacerbated by the purchase of second homes and the rural nature of the district can also make it hard for people to access services.

There are many different groups and partnerships working across the area to try and overcome some of the above challenges and ensure a continued good quality of life for the residents of the South Hams.

These pages provide information on some of the main community development initiatives and partnerships operating in the South Hams as well as information on key issues affecting local people.