Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) has submitted plans to build 125 much-needed new affordable homes in Plymouth after buying of a large site in the north of the city.
PCH is the city’s largest social housing landlord, and has prepared proposals to create a new community on land in Southway which has previously housed a paper-converting mill. The land, located between Clittaford Road, and Southway Drive, was purchased last year by PCH from Countryside Partnerships Ltd for £3,150,000 and the site forms part of a wider area that received planning permission in March 2007 for 490 dwellings.
This week, PCH submitted a full planning application for the scheme to the council following a community consultation held in March to gather feedback from local people, which has helped to inform and shape the final plans.
The application outlines PCH’s proposals to create 125 new, energy efficient affordable homes which will result in lower running costs and reduced energy bills for residents and include accessible and wheelchair standard homes.
The scheme would include a mixture of detached, semi-detached homes and apartments:
- 36 x 1 bed apartments
- 41 x 2 bed homes
- 38 x 3 bed homes
- 10 x 4 bed homes
Apartments would be in four buildings of three storeys, alongside two storey homes based throughout the development.
Of the 125 homes, 81 properties will be made available for social rent for local people in housing need, and 44 homes will be offered for shared ownership purchase through SO Living.
All homes would have access to an outside or garden space, with green communal spaces proposed for the apartments, and there would be a blend of traditional and modern architectural elements used throughout the development.
Parking provision is included in the scheme, with 221 spaces through a mix of parking courts, parking bays and on-plot parking, including 97 electric vehicle charging points, along with secure and covered cycle parking.
The proposed planting for the development includes 34 street trees, 2,751 hedgerow species, and 2,918 shrubs, and the energy performance of the development will aim to achieve a carbon emissions reduction of 15.84% beyond Building Regulation (2021) levels.
A total of 50 responses were recorded during the community consultation, which was delivered through a combination of outreach methods, with 66% of the respondents being non-PCH residents, demonstrating the reach and high community interest in the proposals. The majority (75% of 42 respondents) responded positively to the proposed layout for the site and were in favour of the proposal.
Countryside Partnerships Ltd (previously known as Vistry) is an existing contract partner of PCH, working previously on two popular housing schemes located off Skerries Road and Bampflyde Road in Southway creating a total of 162 affordable homes, as well as continuing to work with PCH on the development of 125 homes on the final phase of the 10-year regeneration of North Prospect.
The purchase of the site in Southway completed on 16 June 2023, and will enable the delivery of affordable housing in a sought-after residential suburb of Plymouth. The new community will benefit from established local facilities and schools, as well as excellent transport links.
Nick Jackson, Director of Business Services and Development at Plymouth Community Homes, said: “There is a growing need for good quality, affordable housing in Plymouth, with more than 6,000 households in the city in housing need.
“Our mission at PCH is to provide a high-quality affordable home for everyone and this development scheme will make a significant contribution to helping us meeting the housing need in Plymouth.
“Southway is a really popular area for families, with excellent links to the centre of Plymouth as well as a number of good local schools, and our plans for this site include some large 3 and 4 bedroom houses which will help to provide long-term security for local families in housing need.
“It will be rewarding to give this site a new lease of life and create a vibrant new community in the area.”
Plymouth Community Homes is a leading social housing provider managing more than 16,000 homes in Plymouth and the surrounding areas. PCH offers homes for both affordable and social rent, as well as developing homes for shared ownership sale.
Shared ownership is a Government-backed scheme making it easier for eligible buyers to get onto the property ladder. Purchasers buy a share of the home and pay rent on the remainder.
*CGIs of Southway Drive provided by DMA Architects.
