Area's £130m rebuild is officially completed

THE £130 million regeneration of what was once one of Plymouth’s most notorious and run-down areas has been officially completed.

- WILLIAM TELFORD

The 12-year North Prospect rebuild project has been the largest regeneration scheme of its kind in the South West, and has seen the area once known as ‘Swilly’ totally transformed.

Work began in 2012 and saw the demolition of almost 800 homes, which were in a poor condition, over the following years. North Prospect now includes more than 1,100 high-quality, energy-efficient new homes, offering a better variety of house types, sizes and tenures.

Before the regeneration, the area had become synonymous with social deprivation, anti-social behaviour and crime. Initial considerations for a regeneration project began almost 30 years ago, and the project has succeeded in improving the wellbeing of residents through the strategic use of architectural features, such as open spaces to help deter anti-social behaviour.

Recently completed surveys and research recorded that total crime in North Prospect has dropped by 59% since the regeneration, while public order offences have reduced by 76%.

From the beginning of the project, Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) sought to rehouse as many residents back into the area as possible. Efforts were made to safeguard the rights of families with roots in the area. During the final three phases, more than 70% of residents were able to move back into new homes in the neighbourhood.

The building works were so substantial that the construction of new homes was divided into five phases, which are now complete. The project has delivered 491 new homes made available for affordable and social rent, and 195 for purchase via shared ownership, overall creating 686 affordable homes – more than the 605 socially rented homes previously in the area.