Demolition of former Whitleigh Community Centre for planned starter homes

Work has started on the demolition of a derelict former community centre with plans for 27 new starter homes on the site.

The former Whitleigh Community Centre, which has been disused for the past eight years and is subject to vandalism, is being demolished to help pave the way for new housing.

Earlier in the year, the Government announced £421,946 funding via the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to help Plymouth City Council prepare the groundwork for the new Starter Homes, which are part of a national initiative to help young first-time buyers (aged between 23 and 40 years) to purchase a home with a minimum 20% discount off the market place.

Councillor Steve Ricketts, Cabinet Member for Transport and Housing for Plymouth City Council, said: “I am delighted that the demolition work has started on this building, which had become an eyesore over the years and had been subject to vandalism and anti-social behaviour after it closed in 2008.

“As a council we are committed to making better use of brownfield sites so that we can regenerate them and provide more housing, so this work is an important step towards that aim.

“It is also fantastic that the HCA has provided this funding to support the pioneering work Plymouth City Council is doing on Starter Homes and housing in general.”

Pemberton Homes are due to submit a planning application in the Autumn for the redevelopment of the site and will be holding a community engagement event in September to consult on the scheme’s design before submitting the application.

John Hoyle, Managing Director of Pemberton Homes said: “Pemberton Homes along with G2 Housing Group Ltd. are delighted to have been able to partner with Plymouth City Council in bringing forward the re-development of this brown field site and look forward to providing quality new housing for the community.”

For more information on Starter Homes visit http://www.new-homes.co.uk/starter-homes/