Residents delighted with their new homes in Plympton following the refurbishment of former MOD estate

“We feel like we’ve won the golden ticket.”

Hillcrest Close in Plympton has become home for many Plymouth residents following the completion of the purchase and refurbishment of 86 new affordable homes in the east of the city.

Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) completed the purchase of the new affordable homes in June 2023, which were to be made available for affordable rent and shared ownership purchase through the organisation’s sales brand, SO Living for local people in housing need.

An estimated £21.5million was invested into the overall project to refurbish the Ministry of Defence (MOD) estate, which included 86 three-bedroom homes, 80 garages and a community centre. The acquisition of homes was made possible thanks to grants from Homes England and Plymouth City Council totalling £7.6million to help fund the overall project cost.

In August 2024, PCH residents living at the former MOD site in Plympton came together for a family fun day organised by PCH and local partners to gather and celebrate with their neighbours and meet with their new local housing team at the Hillcrest Community Centre.

Residents were in high spirits as they met with their new neighbours and friends, with many sharing happy stories of their new homes.

Debbie and Aaron moved into their home with their family in Plympton after living in temporary accommodation for two years and are delighted with their new home and the overwhelming community spirit in the street.

Debbie and Aaron said: “Before moving here we were homeless and lived in a hotel as temporary accommodation for two years. We hoped that we would be given a home, but of course we were nervous about where we were going to live.

“Once we had put our bid on properties here it was a waiting game, but when we finally heard that we were being offered one of these homes the only words were yes yes yes!”

“Our home is beautiful, and we are slowly putting our own stamp on it, with the hope of getting it done before Christmas. It’s so peaceful and it’s amazing to be able to look out to the trees and see the birds. We have put blinds everywhere around the house apart from our living room so we can look out and enjoy nature. We lived in the inner city for so long without this, so living here is just amazing.

“Before we moved here my little girl had no friends, but moving here has absolutely changed her life. This year she has had a proper summer holiday, playing out with friends and living life to the full.

“The biggest change has been for our son who experiences mental health problems and hasn’t left the house for two years. But for the first time, he has now left the house after finding out about the boxing gym that opened down the road. It has seriously changed his life.

“I love the area and being able to say that we live in Plympton. It’s such a community and we all feel very safe. It’s nice to know that everyone wants to live in a nice community like us. We have made such good relationships with our neighbours and the friendships that we have developed are wonderful.

“The support we have received from Plymouth Community Homes and the council has been brilliant. The staff have been fantastic.

“We have never experienced such a community and overall, we honestly feel like we’ve won the jackpot.”

Other Hillcrest Close residents are also delighted with their new home. They said: “We love living here, our old home was 1/3 of the size of our new home and we’re loving having more space.

“The neighbours are nice, and the kids are always out playing. The community centre is amazing and the community spirit that’s come from it is amazing, and it’s a great place to meet new people.”

Mr and Mrs Nica’s new home has changed their lives. They said: “Before moving here we lived in temporary accommodation. The property is wide enough to be able to move our daughter in her wheelchair and we’re lucky to be able to use the dining room as an extra bedroom to suit her needs. We also love the area and have a lovely view from our living room window, without any road noise!”

Nick Jackson, Executive Director of Business Services and Development at Plymouth Community Homes, said: “We are delighted to see first-hand the positive impact that the refurbishment of the homes in Plympton has had on our residents and the community spirit that has arisen so quickly.

“PCH would like to thank Homes England and Plymouth City Council whose grants totalling £7.6million helped to fund the overall project. We look forward to working with them on our existing and future projects to provide more affordable homes across Plymouth and into Devon and Cornwall, in line with our mission to provide a high-quality affordable home for everyone.”

Jill Palmer, Housing Officer at Plymouth Community Homes, said: “It is so positive to see the Hillcrest estate come to life with so many families finding their forever home. The homes are a great size, and Hillcrest has such a lovely atmosphere. These properties offer homes to such a diverse range of families, and it is lovely to see the security they have brought to those who were in temporary accommodation, overcrowding or leaving difficult situations.

“As with all communities there are going to be occasional challenges, but there’s been a great spirit to work hard to overcome these. The event held in the summer at the community centre/ boxing club was great fun and it was particularly positive to see the children playing freely and the adults being able to relax and socialise with other residents and PCH staff.”

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development at Plymouth City Council, said: “I am delighted that the Council have been able to provide funding from our Plan for Homes programme and help bring Hillcrest Close back into use as affordable housing. It is so pleasing to see these empty houses become homes once again.

“Projects like this are yet further testament to what can be achieved by working in partnership with PCH and Homes England. Together we are stronger and together we will continue to deliver results for Plymouth.”

Rebecca Smith MP, Member of Parliament for South West Devon, said: “I am very pleased to hear positive feedback from residents of the former MOD estate in Plympton. There is a clear need for more affordable housing locally. Every week I receive emails from constituents who are stuck on waiting lists for social housing and, in particular, from families in need of larger homes.

"Plymouth Community Homes' 86 three-bedroom homes, supported by £7.6m of grant funding, is lifechanging for many young families. As Plymouth City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing I helped secure the deal and as a MP I will continue to work with Plymouth Community Homes to lobby for more government support in Parliament."

Ruth Ryan, Assistant Director of Affordable Housing Grant Provider Management at Homes England, said: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting Plymouth City Council to achieve their ambitions.

“We have worked closely with Plymouth Community Homes to revitalise this former Ministry of Defence estate and transform it into a new place Plympton residents can be proud to call home.”

All available homes to rent in Devon are advertised on Devon Home Choice, a partnership of local social landlords. To bid for a property or to be considered for a tenancy, registration will need to be completed using their online application form.