North Devon’s council has approved Damien Hirst’s plan to build an entire town just outside of Ilfracombe, a seaside resort on the English coast. The contemporary artist announced the project, which will include 750 homes, a school, playgrounds, stores, office buildings, and a health center, in early 2012. The new development, which is being referred to as the Southern Extension, is expected to feature environmentally-friendly architectural elements such as wind turbines, solar panels, and high-tech insulation. Hirst currently has a studio, restaurant, and several properties in Ilfracombe. 

While planners believe that the development would bring construction jobs to the area and boost the town’s economy, critics claim that the project is too large for the 187-acre area and would negatively affect surrounding wildlife