Devonport has a rich heritage as home to the Royal Naval Dockyard. But when the Navy requisitioned a large area of the town centre for warehousing in the 1950s it did the town no favours. More than half a century later, the town is being regenerated and Redrow is helping to give it back its heart with Vision@Devonport.
More than 450 homes, shops, offices and community facilities make up the mix of uses for the project, which sits within broader regeneration activity in the town. Redrow is working with English Partnerships, Devonport RCP (Regeneration Community Partnership), the Housing Corporation, Plymouth City Council and other stakeholders to ensure that the regeneration meets local needs. More than 100 of the homes will be available for rent/shared ownership via two local housing associations and 15% of the market sale homes will be available to first time buyers under the First Time Buyers’ Initiative being delivered by English Partnerships.
The site was acquired by English Partnerships some two years ago, and a development framework for the area created by urban design practice Matrix Partnership. English Partnerships chose Redrow to develop the site, the housebuilder bringing architect Terence O’Rourke onto the project. Features of surrounding pre-war architecture are used as a point of reference for the new homes, with designs incorporating rendered facades with expressed window features, protruding bays and emphasised front doors. Building materials including brick, glass and timber add interest across the development and ensure locally distinctive features are reflected.
Reinstatement of historic links will help to shape the area’s identity and sense of place, and open up key views. Within the wider development, the existing Market Hall and Clocktower will be refurbished and brought back into public use. The aim is that this will be a desirable place to live and work, bringing housing variety to an area that currently lacks choice and helping to nurture local talent in new commercial buildings.
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