'We've won a golden ticket!' say residents

RESIDENTS who have moved into new social housing in Plymouth say they feel like they have 'won the golden ticket. The purchase and refurbishment of 86 new affordable homes in Hillcrest Close in Plympton has now been completed, with the new properties allocated to people living in the city.

- ANNETTE BELCHER

Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) completed the purchase of the new affordable homes in June 2023, which were to be made available for affordable rent and shared ownership purchase through the organisation's sales brand, SO Living for local people in housing need.

PCH is Plymouth's largest social housing landlord, with more than 16,000 properties providing homes for more than 35,000 people across the city. Its social rents are some of the lowest in the country, and up to 50% less than the cost of renting the same property locally from a private landlord.

An estimated £21.5million was invested into the overall project to refurbish the Ministry of Defence (MOD) estate, which included 86 three-bedroom homes, 80 garages and a community centre. The acquisition of homes was made possible thanks to grants from Homes England and Plymouth City Council, totalling £7.6million to help fund the overall project cost.

In August 2024, PCH residents living at the former MOD site in Plympton came together for a family fun day organised by PCH and local partners to gather and celebrate with their neighbours and meet with their new local housing team at the Hillcrest Community Centre. Residents were in high spirits as they met with their new neighbours and friends, with many sharing happy stories of their new homes.