Bid to raze block and build social eco homes

PLYMOUTH’S towering Marlborough House block of flats is set to be knocked down under plans for a £30m regeneration of the area.

- WILLIAM TELFORD

Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) wants to demolish the Devonport skyscraper and replace it with sustainable, energy-efficient social homes.

The board of PCH has agreed to progress with options to replace its 14-storey block – which could involve another tall building built on the same site. Redevelopment of Marlborough House wouldn’t start for several years, but it means current residents will need to move out and into new homes to enable the building to be razed.

A team of up to 30 staff are on site at Marlborough House every day this week to meet residents in person and explain the plan face-toface, providing reassurance about the next steps and answering questions. PCH said the redevelopment is necessary as the current building, which is more than 50 years old, poses a series of challenges to update and maintain in line with new and future Government regulation for tall buildings and social housing landlords.

PCH said it thoroughly reviewed all possible options for refurbishment but following numerous investigations and surveys, carried out over many years, this was not found to be a viable way forward. Whilst Marlborough House remains safe for residents to live in now, it is not possible to bring the building up to the Government’s required standards for energy efficiency in the future.