Colebrook

Project

Colebrook

Location

Plympton, Plymouth

Client

Westward Housing

Contract

£9.15m

Duration

84 weeks

Project Description

Delivered by Westward Housing Group in partnership with Plymouth City Council, this multi-million-pound project in Colebrook has transformed a former brownfield bus repair yard into a vibrant residential community of 43 high-quality affordable homes. Jointly funded through Plymouth City Council’s ‘Plan for Homes’ initiative and Homes England’s ‘Affordable Housing Programme’, the project addresses critical local housing demands across social rent, shared ownership, and rent-to-buy tenures.

The project faced a significant initial setback when the previous contractor went into administration after piling just 16 plots. Appointed to recover the scheme, Classic Builders audited the existing groundworks and accelerated construction. Working collaboratively with stakeholders and the supply chain, the team successfully met all of Westward’s critical funding deadlines. They also managed complex Party Wall Awards with neighbouring properties, protecting the client and preserving community relations.

Substructure works were technically demanding, requiring extensive piling down to 10 metres to counter poor ground conditions, excessive mud, and high groundwater. As a contaminated former bus yard, ground remediation required close coordination with the Environment Agency. Classic Builders operated under a Material Management Plan and a formal CL:AIRE license to safely process materials on site, while implementing a long-term monitoring and treatment framework for invasive Japanese Knotweed.

Logistics required tight control due to constrained borders, an active railway, a live watercourse, and a narrow entrance on a sharp bend. Classic Builders implemented a strict traffic management framework, utilising the site’s expansive laydown area to strategically stockpile materials and maintain a smooth construction workflow.

Environmental preservation was equally vital. Working alongside the Environment Agency, the team enforced strict pollution prevention measures to protect spawning fish in the adjacent brook, while upgrading the local drainage network to reduce long-term flood risks for the wider Plympton area.

The 43 sustainable timber-frame homes represent a massive leap in energy efficiency, with every property achieving an outstanding EPC A rating. Features include high-grade insulation, triple-glazed windows, roof-mounted solar PV panels, and modern gas boilers to minimise resident utility bills.

Civil works concluded with the delivery of all internal roads, footpaths, fencing, and parking bays. Highly efficient scheduling enabled an early phased handover, allowing the first 26 properties to be occupied safely while final works concluded, establishing a lasting, community-focused asset.

This vibrant new community stands as a proud testament to the power of community-focused regeneration, bringing lasting positive change to Plympton for generations to come.