Plymouth getting 117 new affordable homes as Sherford expands

Plans have been unveiled for more more affordable homes after Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) has expanded its Sherford site. PCH has purchased land from Countryside Properties Ltd (Bovis) and Linden Sherford LLP (Countryside Partnerships).

The expansion means 117 homes will be built on the land within ‘Phase 2D’ on the edge of Plymouth, containing 350 homes, acquiring 51 homes from Countryside Properties (Bovis) and 66 homes from Linden Sherford LLP (Countryside Partnerships). This £32.3m development which has already received detailed planning consent should deliver a range of properties including two-bedroom flats, and two, three, four and five bedroom homes.

Of these, 75 properties will be made available for social rent, and 42 homes will be offered for shared ownership purchase through the organisation’s sales brand SO Living. The new homes will be built with good levels of insulation and energy efficiency which will result in lower running costs and reduced energy bills for residents.

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The 117 homes will follow 17 properties already owned by PCH at Coppice Place in Sherford, including 9 homes for social rent and 8 for shared ownership. As the scheme is already set to provide 20% of the new homes as affordable housing, the 117 homes that have been acquired with help from Homes England grant funding are additional affordable homes which will not be subject to any local connection (S106) restrictions and applicants will be received via Devon Home Choice.

PCH is the city’s largest social landlord, managing 16,000 homes for 35,000 people in and around Plymouth, as well as developing new homes for social rent and shared ownership purchase to help people get onto the housing ladder. Sherford is being developed as a new town and aims to provide in excess of 5,500 new homes together with a new primary and secondary school, community hubs, sports pitches, a leisure centre, playgrounds, skate parks, a shopping centre, and areas of public open spaces including a 500-acre country park.

The wider scheme design includes green spaces including a mix of parkland, meadows, wetlands, stream corridors, woodland areas, pedestrian and cycle paths, hedgerows and new planting. Countryside Partnerships Ltd (previously known as Vistry) is an existing contract partner of PCH, working in collaboration to deliver 125 new affordable homes in Southway, and two other popular housing schemes in Southway, as well as continuing to work with PCH on the development of 125 homes on the final phase of the 10-year regeneration of North Prospect.

The purchase of the land in Sherford completed on 28 June 2024, and will enable the delivery of affordable housing in a sought-after residential suburb of Plymouth.

Andrew Lawrie, Head of Development at PCH, said: “We are delighted to have secured this opportunity to provide 117 new affordable homes in Sherford, thanks to our ongoing partnership with Countryside Partnerships and was only possible with grant support from Homes England.

“This scheme is well placed to meet the PCH strategic priority to develop new homes in and around Plymouth, and this purchase will enable us to progress with the delivery of creating new affordable homes for rent and shared ownership purchase.

“The development should deliver a mix of affordable homes of different sizes within the immediate travel to work area and will help provide long-term security for individuals and families in housing need.”