Clarion Housing Group has been granted full planning permission by Plymouth City Council to regenerate the Barne Barton estate
The multi-million pound project in Plymouth will transform the Barne Barton estate, after the plans were rubber-stamped by the local authority.
The plans include the demolition over two phases of all of Clarion’s properties on the estate, making way for 204 new high-quality homes.
The new development will be 100% affordable, with a mix of homes for social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership. The scheme will deliver 102 houses and 102 apartments.
With residents’ support, Clarion took the decision in 2017 to regenerate the Barne Barton estate due to the quality of the housing stock. The properties suffer from poor insulation, damp and condensation plus the layout of the blocks does not utilise the open space and views in the area.
The estate, which was once the largest naval settlement in the country, will benefit from new community spaces and a new pedestrianised ‘green route’ running through the development. Residents who wish to remain on the estate will be rehoused in the new scheme.
Bob Beaumont, director for regeneration at Clarion Housing Group, said: “We are thrilled that Plymouth City Council has backed our plans to transform the Barne Barton estate.
“Our vision is to create a truly vibrant and sustainable community which will bring long term social, economic and environmental benefits to Plymouth.
“Today’s news is in large part due to the work of our residents who been influential in helping us to shape these plans.
“We will continue to work with residents and Plymouth City Council to turn our vision into a reality.”
Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer, commented: “This is huge news. When I go knocking on doors in Plymouth the demand for good affordable housing is always number one or two on their lists.
“My team have worked tirelessly to improve the offer to residents in Barne Barton – all of our expectations have been exceeded by Clarion in bringing this scheme forward. It will deliver genuine improvements to the lives of hundreds of Plymothians – today is a good day for them and I’m delighted to have played my role in it.”
The scheme was boosted with a £450,000 grant from the government’s estates regeneration fund and has already scooped two national awards for its approach to planning and design.