New Houses and Property in Devonport Near Plymouth

Subscribe to rss

News

LOCAL school children were invited to help start the process of dismantling the three-metre high security wall that has divided Devonport since the 1950s.

Each of three local primary schools was asked to nominate a pupil to join long-time Devonport resident Bill Bannister to start demolishing part of the wall around the old MoD South Yard Enclave, to create an access for a brand new information centre that will open shortly.

Local people cheered as Bill and the three children – Dalton Jones, Katie Chew and Morgan Johnson - helped get the demolition underway.

Bill, who lived within the boundaries of the site until his family home was destroyed by a World War II bomb, said later: “I have waited for this wall to come down for a long time and I feel very emotional. It will be a joy to walk up the street and see all of this clear and open.”

Colin Smethurst, managing director of Redrow Homes (West Country), who are redeveloping the site in association with national regeneration agency English Partnerships, says: “Although most of the wall has to stay in place for safety whilst the bulk of demolition and building work is carried out, the removal of a 10-metre wide strip will signal a major milestone in this regeneration project.

“Involving local children as well as one of the community’s longest serving members is a good way of bringing together the past, present and future of Devonport. We are delighted that Bill has agreed to come back, having removed a symbolic chunk of the wall in 2005 during a celebration event for the local community organised by DRC Partnership and funded by English Partnerships. We decided to invite the children to join him as, like this scheme, they will help to shape the Devonport of tomorrow.”

Redrow is creating a new mixed-neighbourhood on the 18-acre (7.3 ha) site, featuring more than 450 new homes, shops, offices and community facilities. Demolition work is well underway and detailed plans for the first phase of construction are due to be decided by Plymouth City Council very soon.

Following demolition of this first stretch, the rest of the 1,086-metre long wall will be dismantled gradually as Redrow’s regeneration project takes shape.

The area was once the thriving heart of Devonport until, after being heavily damaged in the Blitz, it was taken over by the navy in the early 1950s and walled in. The site still includes the grade II listed Market Hall and clocktower, which Redrow will ensure is brought back into lively use. The façade of the Midland Bank building will also be preserved and these two historic buildings will form a link from Devonport’s proud past to its new, exciting future.

Representatives of English Partnerships, DRC Partnership, the church, schools and other local stakeholders and groups were invited to attend the event.

David Warburton, English Partnerships' area director comments: “Today's landmark event will bring residents of Devonport together to celebrate the next stage in the transformation of the South Yard Enclave. Throughout our involvement in this scheme, we've had many discussions in conjunction with DRC Partnership with local people about what kind of neighbourhood they want us to create, and their support has been invaluable. It's the best possible start to the New Year and I'm so pleased that Bill is able to join us once again to help demolish the wall.”

Peter McNamara, DRC Partnership’s executive director said: “Reunification of the two halves of Devonport through knocking down the wall and redeveloping the South yard is fundamental to the community. This symbolic demolition of the wall marks the beginning of turning DRC Partnership’s plans in to action with the common goal of transforming Devonport.”

Redrow has named its Devonport scheme ‘Vision’ and the new information centre, due to open next month, will be a place where people can find out more about the houses to be built, community facilities and employment opportunities offered by the development.

January 9 2007

Buster Gives Children a Vision for Safety

SPECULATION is rife regarding the controversial wall around the old MoD South Yard Enclave in Devonport and when it might be removed.

The news from developers Redrow is that a small section of the wall will be dismantled early next year to facilitate access to a new information centre.

However, most of the wall and the barbed wire atop must remain for the time-being for health and safety reasons and will come down gradually as Redrow’s new development, ‘Vision’, takes shape.

Anne Tillett, community liaison officer for the Vision scheme, explained: “The wall around the Vision site will be coming down bit by bit as our scheme progresses. The majority of it has to remain standing for now to protect the people of Devonport from the demolition that’s currently underway and the subsequent building work that will be undertaken as we start to regenerate the site.”

Redrow’s very own health and safety mascot, Buster the Bear, was in Devonport recently to highlight the need for the wall around the site. He emphasised the importance of safety to children from Marlborough Primary School.

Anne added: “It’s great that Buster could join us to help explain to the children the importance of safety around building sites, especially as they can sometimes get bored during school holidays. We understand that people in Devonport are excited about the prospect of the wall coming down at last and the site once again becoming part of the local community. However, it is vital that this is done in a safe and secure manner and making the children aware of the potential dangers is an important part of that process.”

Developed in association with national regeneration agency English Partnerships, Vision will be an 18-acre (7.3 ha) mixed-use neighbourhood featuring more than 450 new homes, shops, offices and community facilities. The area originally formed part of Devonport town centre, which was heavily damaged in the Blitz. It was subsequently incorporated into the dockyard perimeter by the MoD and enclosed by a three-metre high stone wall.

The site still includes the grade II listed Market Hall and clocktower, which Redrow will ensure is brought back into lively use. The façade of the Midland Bank building will be preserved and again be present in one of the main streets. These two historic buildings will form a link from Devonport’s proud past to its new, exciting future.

Colin Smethurst, managing director of Redrow Homes (West Country), says: “We are just as keen as the local community to see the wall finally removed and this part of Devonport once again re-open to all. We have a duty to ensure that this is done with absolutely no risk to the general public.

“The New Year will see lots of things happening at Vision, when we hope to have detailed planning consent for our first phase of redevelopment. We will also be opening our information centre in February, where people will be able to find out more about the houses to be built, community facilities and employment opportunities.”

Steve Jackson, English Partnerships’ Senior Regeneration Manager says: “Local people will be very excited to see the wall come down and I’m sure everyone understands the need for us to carefully plan each stage of its removal. Ensuring the safety of Devonport’s residents is our top priority while demolition work is underway. The high-quality development planned for the Vision site is integral to the wider regeneration of Plymouth that is continuing apace and we’re proud to be playing a major part in the city’s revival.”

People can already register their interest in Vision, either by texting ‘Vision’ to 60030 on their mobile phones, calling 0845 676 0328 or logging on to the new website at www.vision.redrow.co.uk.

Editor’s footnote:

Redrow Homes has been awarded Major Housebuilder of the Year 2006 in the annual Building Awards, for its success in helping first time buyers onto the property ladder with its Debut range, whilst still maintaining a healthy profit margin. Additionally Redrow has been voted Housebuilder of the Year by national consumer property magazine Your New Home, as well as winning the Best Development for First Time Buyers category for its innovative Debut range and Best New Build Village for Buckshaw Village in Chorley, Lancs.

English Partnerships is the government’s national regeneration agency delivering high quality, sustainable growth in England. Information on projects and programmes can be found at www.englishpartnerships.co.uk

21 December 2006

Vision in sight

WORK has begun on creating ‘Vision’, an exciting new mixed-use neighbourhood on the site of the former MoD South Yard Enclave at Devonport.
Read more...

Up, up and away!

WHEN Finley Worthington from Plymouth entered a balloon race in August, he had no idea his balloon would end up over a hundred miles away in France.
Read more...

Redrow Arrives In Devonport

In my role as Project Manager it was a very special day for Redrow when national regeneration agency English Partnerships confirmed us as their choice to redevelop the South Yard Enclave site at Devonport.