Redrow Redrow nears completion on £70m Devonport Estate
Housing developer Redrow will shortly complete construction at the 464 unit Vision regeneration project in Plymouth. The £70m ($93m) project is based at the old site of the Royal Navy South Yard Enclave, and can house over 1,100 residents. The project was initiated in 2007, and involved the provision of £700,000 by Redrow to transform the former Devonport Market Hall into a digital industry meeting place.

Something went wrong, please try again later.

Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later.

Get the stories that matter to our community straight to your inbox with our Daily Newsletter

The biggest city regeneration scheme in the South West will be complete when the last few families move into a £70million Devonport estate next month.

Developer Redrow has virtually finished construction at the vast 464-property Vision project in what was once the Royal Navy South Yard Enclave.

The final building, Zone G, on what was the sales office’s car park on the corner of Phelps Road and Chapel Street, is nearly ready.

And by October 2017 all homes will be filled on the immense estate and it will be home to more than 1,100 people.

(Image: Penny Cross)

That will complete the ambitious scheme which Redrow started in 2007, in what was once a dockyard stores area.

But the firm is keen to point out its legacy will continue, as it has invested in an array of community projects and has provided £700,000 towards the transformation of the former Devonport Market Hall into a digital industry hub.

And it has had a major impact on the economy of he city, with up to 80 construction workers, including apprentices, on the site each day during the decade-long build.

(Image: Penny Cross)

Nigel Palmer, managing director for Redrow Homes’ South West division, said: “We have employed 70 to 80 people here on a daily basis,” he said. “Then there is the spin-offs, money going to the local stores.

“Then there is the legacy, we have invested £700,000 into the Market Hall, to reinstate the bells and clock tower, and for security and upkeep of the building.”

He said £3.7million had been paid over in Section 106 payments, contributions made to the local authority.

(Image: Penny Cross)

“That went to education, transport, highways, and for public areas, such as Granby Green, which benefited from £250,000.”

The Devonport Views 42-flat extra-care housing block for older people was paid for by Redrow but managed by Devon and Cornwall Housing.

But Mr Palmer stressed Redrow had gone beyond it’s statutory obligations, and pumped cash and support into community organisations and events, including St Aubyn’s Church, Devonport Linc, Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Devonport Boxing Club, three primary schools, police cadets, carol festivals, family fun days and poetry events, including sponsorship of the PlymLit literary festival in 2016 and 2017.

(Image: Penny Cross)

“I’m really proud at what the guys have achieved,” Mr Palmer said. “They’ve done a fantastic job here and left a legacy.”

Vision, alongside other neighbouring housing schemes and social enterprise-led business initiatives, has transformed what was once one of Plymouth’s most crime and deprivation-troubled quarters into a pleasant, modern, and prosperous area.

Other projects surrounding Vision include the redevelopment of the former naval base at Mount Wise, and replacement of housing in between it and Vision, and at Granby Green.

(Image: Penny Cross)

Some of this new housing was created by Linden Homes – where Mr Palmer worked before joining Redrow.

And as a “Plymouth boy”, who was educated at nearby Devonport High School for Boys, he’s well qualified to give a view on the area’s improvement.

“It’s transformed the whole area,” he said. “The West side of Plymouth has changed for the better.”