10,000 new city centre homes ‘not firm target’

PUBLIC ARE BEING ASKED FOR THEIR VIEWS ON THE PLAN

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

PLYMOUTH may not get as many at 10,000 homes built in the city centre after all - and construction could be spread out over a much wider area.

On the first day of a widespread consultation on the future of the city centre, it was revealed that plans will be drawn for a “city core masterplan” zone, amid a City Living Framework area which stretches as far as the Royal William Yard, North Hill and Cattedown.

And the team behind the project said that construction of 10,000 homes is ‘an aspiration, not a target’.

They also stressed that schools, health centres, transport links and other infrastructure is being looked at alongside housing.

Plymouth residents are being invited to give their views on how the city centre can be transformed as part of the next phase of the City Living Framework programme.

This will set out a “bold vision for how Plymouth's city centre could evolve into a vibrant place to live’ with new homes, “greener streets, lively public spaces and a stronger sense of community’.

Plymouth City Council is behind the plans to build 10,000 new homes, working with the Government and its housing quango Homes England on what it calls “transformational change”.

It has started an “engagement” phase, with a consultation in the autumn when a draft framework and master plan is ready. That will then be submitted around the turn of the year.

At the first pop-up City Living hub, at Plymouth Central Library, architects and designers from LHC Design, WSP, Makower Architects and Gillespie Yunnie Architects, met members of the public to explain the project and hear their views.

Graham Devine, an architect and director at LHC Design, said the actual number of new homes won't be decided until a design phase is complete.

He said: “Ten thousand homes is an aspiration not a target. But you need an aspiration to start something.”