Work has begun on a major affordable housing development in Southway, marking a significant turning point for a derelict industrial site that has sat vacant since a catastrophic arson attack over a decade ago.
The £28m project at Clittaford Road will see 125 energy-efficient homes built on the site of the former paper-converting mill.
The development is being hailed as an “important milestone for Southway Drive” by Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England.
The scheme is a collaboration between Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), the City Council, and the Vistry Group. It aims to breathe life into a disused north Plymouth site that has remained largely dormant since 2015 after a fire destroyed the disused mill which occupied the area.
From Industrial Fire to Residential Future
The site’s history is a microcosm of the region’s economic shifts. Once a bustling industrial anchor, the mill fell into disuse in the early 2000s. Its fate was sealed in July 2015 when a massive fire, visible from Cornwall and requiring 70 firefighters to contain, tore through the structure.
The derelict remains of the factory continued to frustrate locals until 2018, when final demolition took place.
In the years following the blaze, the land was purchased by The Range owner Chris Dawson and was ultimately developed into an Aldi supermarket on part of the plot.
The move to convert the site into 100% affordable housing was secured in 2023, following a £3.15m land deal designed to unlock “stalled” brownfield sites.
A City in Need of Housing
The Southway start-date comes at a time of acute pressure for the city’s housing sector. Recent data suggests Plymouth is grappling with a market failure, where the supply of new homes has hit historic lows while demand for social-rent properties has soared.
What the New Community Will Look Like
The development has been designed to be “tenure blind,” meaning there will be no visible difference between the 81 social-rent homes and the 44 shared-ownership properties.
The project aims for a nearly 16% reduction in carbon emissions beyond standard building regulations, utilizing a “gas-free” heating mandate and extensive biodiversity landscaping, including over 2,700 new hedgerow species.
For the families moving in which is expected from 2027, the location offers strategic links to Derriford Hospital, a major regional employer located less than two miles away.
