Residents at a sheltered housing scheme in Devon are said to be "reeling in shock" upon hearing that their homes will be demolished and rebuilt. Plymouth Community Homes has informed 53 tenants at Brake Farm in Plymouth, about their need to relocate.
Residents, including some over the age of 90 and amputees, were informed last week that the Whin Bank Road site is due for redevelopment. PCH said that refurbishing the inadequate properties, which currently consist of small bedsits with shared bathrooms, wouldn't be an effective long-term solution.
Therefore, the decision has been made to pull down the structures and develop a new accommodation of 73 accessible, energy-efficient homes that will be available for social rent. PCH expressed that this move will also allow them to grow the number of homes and mitigate the strain on existing housing.
Read next:
Pub faces demolition as locals rally against plans
Murder accused 'had face split open' by 'abusive' husband
The project's designs are under development, with an estimated completion year of 2029. However, the company also clarified that because they're demolishing the current buildings, occupants will have to be moved into other accommodation.
A member of the public told PlymouthLive that Brake Farm residents were "reeling in shock". PCH says it has met with the residents to explain the situation, and many are content to relocate to another sheltered scheme where houses are larger and more easily accessible, reports Plymouth Live.
The company said it has spoken to everyone involved, their families, and those who look after them. It said residents would be helped to find somewhere suitable to move to.
Residents will be given priority to move to another supported housing scheme in the vicinity, and first refusal to move back to Brake Farm when the new block has been completed. Residents may also be eligible for compensation and a "moving home policy" has been created, explaining how they will be helped to move and the types of properties on offer. The policy contains information about the home loss payments and disturbance allowance they may be entitled to.
Letters have also been written to residents in surrounding bungalows, who are not being moved, explaining the project. PCH is also allowing a year to 18 months before any redevelopment work begins, with construction estimated to start in the autumn of 2025.
⚠️ Want the latest Devon breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice ⚠️
Jonathan Cowie, PCH chief executive, said: "It's essential we provide good quality homes for older people in Plymouth to enable people to live independently at home for longer, and our 11 sheltered housing schemes offer much-needed, affordable accommodation. The Brake Farm scheme is no longer fit for purpose as it offers primarily small bedsits in a block of flats and half-house flats with no lifts, all based on a steep site, and it can be difficult to let the homes as a result."
"We are planning to redevelop the site and create up to 73 larger, more accessible homes for older people in Plymouth, helping to future-proof sheltered housing in this area of the city for years to come. It will take some time to redevelop the site, with works unlikely to start until autumn 2025, subject to funding and planning permissions being agreed, but we are starting the process to help existing residents move to other sheltered accommodation in Plymouth ahead of the regeneration."
He added: "We appreciate how unsettling it can be to move, and we have been supporting our residents as much as we can, with our housing with support teams on site every day to talk through the process with residents face-to-face, answer questions and provide reassurance. We'll also be helping our residents through the process of finding new accommodation at another of our sheltered schemes and ensuring they can move to their new homes smoothly and easily, as well as making a home loss payment and disturbance allowances. All the current residents at Brake Farm will have an option to return to the new homes on the site when they are complete."
