Plymouth councillors visit landmark Barne Barton regeneration project as construction work nears
Plymouth councillors joined housing provider Clarion Housing Group and local residents on the site of an award-winning regeneration project in Barne Barton this week to mark the imminent start of work to construct more than 200 new affordable homes.
Clarion is working with contractor Lovell to transform its 1960s Barne Barton housing estate – once the largest naval settlement in the country – into a multi-million pound new mixed-tenure community comprising solely of vital new affordable homes for local people.
Cllr Rebecca Smith, Cabinet Member for Homes and Communities, and St Budeaux ward members Cllr Pat Patel, Cllr George Wheeler and Cllr Sally Hayden visited the scheme on Thursday 2 March as part of a special stakeholder event marking the £22m project’s latest milestone and building work beginning this spring.
Following the approval of a revised planning application earlier this year, work is now set to start on building 204 quality and sustainable new houses and apartments for social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership sale.
The ambitious Barne Barton project will transform the layout and design of the previous estate to create a thriving new community with a variety of housing types better suited to the needs of residents, who will be rehoused when the homes complete.
Clarion’s plans, which were shaped in partnership with the council and a dedicated residents’ steering group, will also deliver new community spaces and a pedestrianised ‘green route’ into the city centre.
Clare Miller, chief executive of Clarion Housing Group, said:
“We are delighted to have come together with trusted partners and residents of Barne Barton to mark the beginning of the most important phase of this transformative project – the building of vital new affordable homes.
“We have a long history in Plymouth, providing homes and shelter to those who need it most. Our redevelopment of Barne Barton begins another chapter in that history, and we are incredibly proud to be working with the council, development partners and the local community to finally turn our shared vision into a reality.”
Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moor View, said:
“I was delighted to hear that Clarion is celebrating planning permission for continued works in the Barne Barton area. I have worked closely with all housing providers in the area and am excited to see the transformation in this close-knit community.
“Quality of housing has been a problem in this area for some time and I fully support all that Clarion is doing to improve the offering for my constituents.”
Andrew Johnston, Regional Managing Director at Lovell, said:
“Lovell is delighted to be appointed by Clarion as the main contractor for this important redevelopment in Barne Barton. We are looking forward to getting the construction programme underway in the coming months to build quality, affordable new homes for local people and help support the community in which we are working.”
Councillor Rebecca Smith, Cabinet Member for Homes and Communities, added:
"The regeneration of Barne Barton is a long-anticipated project and I know it has taken many people many years to get to this point. Key to the success so far has been community engagement. This regeneration is for them and we must never lose sight of that.
"Today is just the start and I look forward to returning here to see wonderful new houses transformed into homes."
Clarion Housing Group will deliver the new homes, designed by architects Clifton Emery Design, in phases with the first 39 homes completing by summer 2024.
The housing provider’s Barne Barton project is hoping to secure a ‘Building with Nature’ Design Award, an external recognition for green and sustainability standards. Building with Nature is the UK’s first evidence-based benchmark for sustainable infrastructure, created in partnership with planners, developers and other key stakeholders.