Plymouth City council partnership housing regeneration project, at Ker Street has been named as a finalist in the category ‘Development of the Year – Large Schemes’ in this year’s UK Housing Awards.
Overseen by the Chartered Institute of Housing, the award submission highlighted the many community gains, including tackling homelessness, creating jobs and providing apprentice training in addition to the high quality of design and build.
The redevelopment is a significant part of the on-going regeneration of Devonport and is being co-ordinated and partly funded by the council in partnership with the Devon and Cornwall Housing group, Westco and housebuilder, Linden Homes. an exciting regeneration project comprising the demolition of existing post war buildings and the building of new homes within a refreshed street scene. The award winning scheme, together with other important initiatives in the area, plays an important role in the creation of a new balanced and sustainable community within Devonport.
The partnership has managed to invest a total cash injection of nearly £50 million into boosting the area. The development provides a mixed community of affordable, assisted and private housing, plus 15,000 sq ft of employment space.
Demolition work started on site in 2008 by ex-resident Mr Philip Coombe, 82, who lived in the former Bull Ring development from the time it opened in 1962 until he was decanted in June 2006 prior to the demolition. He lived at no.14 (two bed) with his family, until he was alone and he moved into no.12 (one bed).
Mr Coombe recalled the event: “I felt a bit emotional at the time but, come the end, I was glad to get out. It was a good community in the beginning, but it started to go down.
“The new development is bringing back some of the community spirit”, he added.
The partnership has recently been hailed by Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Oliver Collville as having ‘injected vitality into the area and bringing a sense of hope and aspiration to the people of Devonport.’
Architectural design has been influenced by the Grade I listed buildings which still have a significant presence in the area. The development is built in three phases and the houses in phase one on Ker Street boast three storeys to respond to the grandeur of the Guildhall, the figurehead of the scheme, while others are two storey and blend with existing buildings across Pembroke Lane.
Evolve was launched by Devonport resident and Olympic athlete, Sharron Davies MBE, in the summer of 2009. Since then only 30 of the 113 remain unoccupied having been sold to a mix of ages ranging from 25 to 90 years old, the majority of whom are local to the city. Phase 3 of the development is due to commence and complete by 2016.
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Press enquires to Anju Sarpal Linden Homes PR for Devon and Cornwall. anju.sarpal@lindenhomes.co.uk or call 07918 907773
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