Street naming brings the past alive at new homes in Colebrook
New and long-standing residents joined representatives from Plymouth City Council, along with the contractors and consultants involved in delivering 43 affordable Westward homes in Colebrook, Plympton, to officially name the development's two streets after historically significant local figures.
Building more affordable homes in a very accessible range of tenures such as social rent, rent to buy and affordable home ownership to meet local need is a Westward priority. This estate is part of our strategy to tackle the housing crisis through partnership working.
Councillor Matt Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "I'm so pleased to see the completion of these much-needed homes and would like to thank Westward for the dedication they have shown over the past seven years to deliver them. Yet again, partnership working has delivered results for local people.
"The interest in these fantastic new homes has been huge and it demonstrates just how important it is to build more affordable housing over the next few years."
The gathering heard from local ward Councillor Patrick Nicholson, who originally proposed the idea of celebrating local people’s names in the street naming of the two highways in the estate.
Rose Hamley spoke next, whose parents are the namesake of the newly named Friendship Close. Fred Friendship, a local man, worked as a teenager at Gulley’s flour mill at Loughter Mill. He subsequently married Hilda and lived over 1 and 2 Holborn Place, Colebrook. In 1937, this became ‘Friendships’, a local shop well-known by many. Their shop was a general store, selling practically everything that was needed for everyday living. They were an integral part of the community.
Fred and Hilda were involved with the Colebrook Show for some years and in 1953 were instrumental in bringing to the show a deer, which was roasted in celebration of the Queen’s Coronation. They retired in 1977 with the shop having been purchased by a relative who kept it going into the 1990s.
Next to speak was Mike Stopporton whose family Stopporton Road is being named for. Alderman Joan Stopporton was a former Devon County Councillor and Plymouth City Councillor for the Plympton St Mary Ward having been elected to the County Council in 1979 and the City Council in 1987 serving until her retirement in 2000. Joan was a formidable Plympton community campaigner becoming Lord Mayor of Plymouth in 1997/98. Joan helped the Colebrook community build a new community centre at Peacock Meadow. She served as Plympton Stannator, equivalent of a town mayor.
Colebrook’s new homes are a mix of accommodation for families. The properties on this significant site were provided in partnership and jointly funded by Plymouth City Council’s Plan for Homes initiative and Homes England’s ‘Affordable Homes Programme’ alongside funding from Westward.
The homes provide much needed affordable housing for the Plymouth area where the Devon Home Choice waiting list for Plymouth numbers more than 7,000 households.
Stephen Lodge, Chief Executive at Westward Housing Group, said: “This has been a wonderful opportunity to work with our partners Plymouth City Council and Classic Builders on a major new homes development that has made a huge difference to local people in terms of their housing options.
“Today was a memorable occasion, hearing about the legacy of these amazing local figures and we are proud to have been able to recognise them far into the future with this street naming today.”
The properties were built by regional award-winning construction firm Classic Builders who have already provided other high quality, affordable homes for Westward in Plymouth.
The 43 homes in total offer a range of housing options including 20 homes for social rent to local people, 9 rent to buy homes which provide an opportunity for people to rent at a discounted rate and save for a deposit, to then later buy the home they are renting. For those seeking shared ownership opportunities this estate also offers 14 homes which have all been quickly reserved.
As part of the overall investment, Westward also made contributions of £21,000 for highway improvements and a further £14,000 for Newham Downs play area improvements.
Westward has designed the homes to a high standard. Homes will have EPC (energy efficiency performance) rating to a minimum standard of B across the site. All homes are a sustainable timber frame construction with solar photovoltaic panels, high insulation standards and gas combination central heating and hot water systems.
Environmental management has been a priority. Westward is working with the Environment Agency to ensure protection for the fish that spawn in the adjacent brook whilst improving flood risk protection to benefit the community.
The land was formerly a brownfield site with multiple previous uses including a bus repair yard. Colebrook is a highly desirable area of Plympton with great transport networks and local amenities.