Major homes scheme 'at risk of permission lapsing'
Homes England is trying to keep the plans moving forwards
Homes England is seeking permission from Plymouth City Council to keep a massive redevelopment plan in the city alive.
The government’s housebuilding agency is without a development partner to bring forward its “flagship” scheme for 550 homes, retail and community space at the former China Clay Dryer Works in Coypool granted outline planning permission in 2023.
Unless detailed plans come forward imminently and work begins within the three year window, planning permission will lapse.
Planning documents to the council say that Homes England had been working closely with a developer until late 2025 but that partnership had ended and it was unable to bring forward the housing elements of the plan.
That developer was believed to be Barrett David Wilson Homes.
Homes England is therefore applying for detailed consent for the 40 acre woodland area, which will define the Coypool Park development, to prevent the outline permission for the whole site expiring and with it “a significant housing scheme”.
This will be considered as the “first phase” of the plan whilst Homes England secures a developer for the homes.
Included in the plans is a 7,000 sq ft community hub which could accommodate a café, nursery and flexible space for local clubs, health clinics and general community use and 4,000 sq ft of retail space.
As part of the outline approval Homes England were required to include 110 affordable homes, £1.8 million towards strategic transport improvements along the city’s eastern corridor, £1 million towards secondary education in the the area, over £800,000 towards a Plympton Wellbeing Hub and Boringdon Sports Hub or other sports provision in the area, £360,000 towards affordable housing projects elsewhere in the city and £650,000 towards the cost of maintaining the Coypool park and ride bus route for at least five years.
The China Clay Dryer Works at Coypool closed in 2008 and has long been earmarked for redevelopment. It was purchased by Homes England in 2018 after previous plans stalled.
After gaining planning permission Homes England said this was its flagship housing project as it “redeveloped a redundant brownfield site into a wonderful place to live surrounded by woodland”.
The woodland will be available to existing residents in the area as well as future residents. Educational features will also be integrated into the setting as well as seated areas and play opportunities and site plans for a community orchard.
There is a legal agreement to transfer open space, play spaces and woodland to Plymouth City Council once all work and improvements in those areas are complete.
The 550 homes, which includes 60 units for older people, are expected to help Plymouth City Council reach it’s housebuilding targets.
At the current time the council does not have enough housing sites to meet its five year housing supply.
The required number of houses for the Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon joint plan area over the next five years is 13,015 dwellings.