New homes ready in time for Christmas
Homes for the South West member, Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), has delivered the final two affordable homes at Embden Grange scheme in Tavistock, also known as ‘Butcher’s Park’, just in time for Christmas.
PCH has 38 homes in the development, built by Barratt David Wilson Homes – 29 for affordable rent and nine for shared ownership sale through SO Living, who are selling the homes under the marketing name of ‘The Consols’.
There are three remaining homes left for shared ownership sale and 11 homes available for rent. The PCH homes at the site are a mix of one- and two-bed flats and two- and three-bed houses.
The rented homes are available to people with a connection to the West Devon area.
Marianne Miller, Assistant Project Manager at Plymouth Community Homes, said: “This has been a great project to work on, providing much needed one, two and three-bed affordable homes for local people in Tavistock. Plymouth Community Homes would like to thank Barratt David Wilson Homes and West Devon Borough Council for making it possible.”
West Devon Borough Council’s Lead Member for Homes, Councillor Debo Sellis, said: “Affordable housing is vitally important to local people to provide them with a safe environment for themselves and their children. We all remember moving in to our first home and this will be an extra special Christmas for some.
“Having spoken to one of the families that has already moved in to an affordable home at Butcher’s Park, I know first-hand what it meant to the resident and their children.”
David Matthews, land director at Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter, said: “We’re really proud to have handed over more than a third of the homes at Embden Grange to leading local housing association Plymouth Community Homes and to see people starting to move in.
“Creating a balanced, mixed community at Embden Grange is really important to us – including supporting local families and individuals in need of a new home. The development is really taking shape now and coming to life as more and more people move in. The last few homes are available through our sales team on site, online and by phone.”
One resident who is definitely looking forward to her first Christmas in her new home is tenant Nikki Waters, who moved in during the summer – just weeks before she was due to give birth.
The move was stressful for Nikki, who had been sleeping on her mum’s sofa and sofa surfing with friends before finding a house.
She had to contend with house hunting while heavily pregnant and viewing properties online only as face-to-face viewings were cancelled during lockdown.
She’s now the proud mum to four-month-old daughter Parker and Nikki has made sure their first Christmas in their new home will be one to remember.
She said: “My home is looking really festive. I put my tree up on November 15. I wanted to make it look really cosy. I know my daughter won’t remember it but it’s more for me. I really want to make it special.”
“I love the house. It’s close enough to town here but out of the way enough for it to be quiet. They have also finished the play park now and it looks really nice. By the summer my daughter will be able to take advantage of it.”
