Eight new energy-efficient homes for social rent are set to open their doors in North Prospect this summer.
Located on the former North Prospect Library site at Greatlands Place in Ford, these one- and two-bedroom apartments represent a significant addition to the city’s housing stock, addressing the ongoing demand for affordable housing in Plymouth.
This development is a collaborative effort by Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), Plymouth City Council, and Homes England. PCH, as Plymouth’s largest social housing landlord managing over 16,000 homes in the city, has led the project. Funding contributions include nearly £780,000 from Homes England’s Affordable Homes Programme, part of the total £8m budget. a national initiative supporting the creation of affordable housing along with £80,000 from the Council’s Eco Homes Fund and £60,000 from the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF).
Plymouth’s current housing crisis
This new development comes at a critical time for Plymouth. Our city, like many across the UK, is grappling with a significant housing shortage and an ongoing crisis of affordability. This is evident in several key areas.
- High Demand for Social Housing: As of late March 2024, there were over 7,000 households on Plymouth’s social housing waiting list (PDF SOURCE) highlighting the pressing need for more affordable homes. Many of these families and individuals are in urgent need, struggling to find suitable and stable accommodation.
- Rising Costs: Private rental prices in Plymouth have been steadily increasing. The average monthly private rent reached approximately £943 in May 2025, representing a notable annual increase. House prices have also seen a significant rise, making homeownership increasingly out of reach for many local people.
- Pressure on Temporary Accommodation: The number of households requiring temporary accommodation due to homelessness has significantly increased to a staggering 162% increase in recent years (PDF Source Page 5). This places considerable financial strain on council resources and, more importantly, causes immense disruption and hardship for the families themselves.
It is against this backdrop that the provision of new social rent homes, like those in North Prospect, becomes so vital. “Social rent” means genuinely affordable rental properties, typically around 50% of market rates, provided by not-for-profit landlords like Plymouth Community Homes. These homes offer secure tenancies, providing much-needed stability for residents who might otherwise struggle in the private market.
The New North Prospect Homes
These homes are designed with energy efficiency in mind, aiming to reduce living costs for future residents. They feature modern amenities such as air source heat pumps for heating, triple glazing for insulation, and PV (photovoltaic) panels to generate electricity, contributing to lower utility bills.
Externally, electric vehicle charging points and secure cycle storage are available to encourage sustainable transport options.
The ground-floor apartments include private gardens and meet M4(2) accessibility standards, meaning they are designed to be easily adaptable for residents with various mobility needs. First-floor flats also have private amenity spaces.
In line with environmental considerations, an ecologically diverse planted area has been established along Wolseley Road, incorporating bat boxes, bird boxes, and bee bricks to support local biodiversity.
The re-development of this site is part of the ongoing North Prospect regeneration. This wider £130 million initiative began in 2012. The current project further aligns with the Council’s Plan for Homes Initiative, a key city strategy aiming to deliver at least 5,000 new low-carbon homes across Plymouth over the next five years.
These new homes will be prioritised for individuals with a local connection to the local area, ensuring they benefit the community directly. Residents interested in applying for one of these properties, or any other social rent home in Devon, should register and bid through Devon Home Choice.
