Stirling House, Plymouth

LHC Design was appointed by Coyde Construction Ltd to create a vibrant new community on the site of a former residential care home at Honicknowle Green in Plymouth. The development includes six two- to four-bedroom houses arranged in two terraces of three homes each, along with 19 thoughtfully designed one- and two-bedroom flats distributed across three separate buildings.

Building on the success of the Nelson project in Stonehouse, the scheme aimed to achieve positive social outcomes by integrating into an established community. It offers a mix of homes for individuals on the city’s housing waiting list and service veterans, fostering inclusivity and support within the neighborhood.

Location

Honicknowle Green, Plymouth

Client

Coyde Construction Ltd, LiveWest

Service

Architecture

Sector

Social Housing

Value

Circa £4m

Area

5000 sq.m

Completed

2024

Project Description

Designed by Form Design Group, these homes have been carefully planned to create an inclusive, comfortable environment, with supporting infrastructure including new site roads, footpaths, fencing, parking areas, landscaping, drainage systems, and utility connections. Our architectural services were provided in line with the RIBA Plan of Work: Stage 5, and tailored to suit a Design and Build contract.

This development is about more than just housing—it’s about fostering a sense of community, ensuring accessibility, and building homes that offer a high quality of life for all residents. In a partnership between Plymouth City Council, housing association LiveWest, and the veterans’ charity Alabaré, twelve of the homes were built by veterans themselves, who now live in these homes, creating a lasting connection between the construction process and those who benefit from the completed development.

A key feature of the development is its strong focus on accessibility. One dwelling has been built to meet AD M4(3) accessibility standards, and 20% of the dwellings comply with AD M4(2), making them suitable for people with mobility needs. One of the apartment blocks includes lift access to all floors, with a level approach to accessible parking spaces conveniently located close to the entrance.

All of the dwellings have been designed to meet the National Described Space Standards, ensuring generous, comfortable living spaces. In addition, passive security measures have been implemented wherever possible, enhancing safety for residents. The site provides 26 parking spaces, including two wheelchair-accessible spaces near the apartment block, and a dedicated accessible bay for the M4(3) compliant house, designed with 1200mm access zones on one side and to the rear.

For residents of the flats, there is a communal amenity space that is easily accessible and overlooked, designed in accordance with the Plymouth City Development Guidelines for Space to provide an inviting outdoor area for relaxation and socialising.

Our Approach

Working closely with the design architect, who had developed the scheme to RIBA Stage 3/4, we faced the challenge of harmonizing the design aspirations of both the architect and client while managing the budget constraints of our contractor client. Our approach ensured that the creative vision was preserved without adding financial pressures to the project during what was an unprecedented construction cost inflation at that time. With the costs successfully managed we ensured an outcome that allowed this great project to be delivered on cost and in line with the design aspiration of the Client, Local Planning Authority and the Executive Architect.