plymouthcommunityhomes.co.uk
Regeneration Phase 2 North Prospect Regeneration News
Children are first served by The Beacon Children and staff from a nursery which has moved into The Beacon are delighted with their new home. The youngest in the community were the first to move into the Beacon as LARK Children’s Centre became the first group to move into the community hub after re-locating from North Prospect Primary School. More than 40 children aged up to five-years-old are looked after each week by 13 trained staff members. Children’s Centre Manager Elizabeth Knight said: “It is great being in a large, modern building and the children and parents have adapted really well. Our old building was OK but it was time to go. “In the middle of the community hub will be a library which the children can visit without having to cross a road. This will be fantastic for the children and we are really looking forward to that. The children benefit greatly from being more involved and more visible in the community by being in this building. “We are also delighted with the outdoor space we have. The balcony
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area is great for the little ones and the parents really appreciate having the courtyard area. We are working on creating more greenery to really build on the inside/outside space we have. “The office space is also a bonus as it enables us to have a private area for our meetings or meetings with parents.” In 2002 when the nursery opened in North Prospect Primary School, it was the only day care facility in North Prospect and part of the trail-blazing Sure Start government scheme which made day care accessible for parents who wanted to return to study or work. The nursery is part of a range of support services, with other support available at the Sure Start shop on North Prospect Road. At LARK Children’s Centre, children are split into three groups depending on their age and enjoy a range of activities with a range of resources.
Tim Phillips, Head of Housing Choices, said: “We are delighted to welcome our first tenants into The Beacon in an exciting milestone for the building. Working with Barratts, we have delivered modern facilities which meet their requirements in the heart of our regeneration project.” For more information on LARK Children Centre Daycare which has some spaces available for children aged up to five-years-old, contact them on 01752 213551 or www.larkmouth.com For any other support for families with children under five contact the Sure Start shop on 01752 313293 or www.larkmouth.com.
Regeneration Phase 2 North Prospect Regeneration News
plymouthcommunityhomes.co.uk
First residents move into The Beacon The first residents have moved into the apartments for rent which form part of Plymouth Community Homes’ newly built Beacon Community Hub in North Prospect. The flagship project is part of a brand new multi-purpose centre designed to serve the needs of the community, including residents and local businesses. It’s being built by Barratt Homes as part of the regeneration of the area. It includes 39 homes created for over 55s, with a mix of one and two bedroom apartments. When it’s complete, the Beacon will also house a wide range of activities from a nursery and community learning to a skills development centre for start-up businesses. There will also be a library, commercial shop space, communal space for meetings, community hall and café. The first area to be occupied (facing Foliot Road) is now home to Lark Sure Start Nursery. It will also contain space for two offices and a business enterprise centre.
The Beacon Enterprise Centre (BEC) will occupy around 300 metres of workspace to help local people access work, support for business or training for people who are new to business. Tony and Trish Brown (pictured) were the first to sign a tenancy agreement for the new apartments and had seen the block being built as they have passed from their former home in West Park. Mrs Brown said: “We knew it was a new build, so it’d be insulated and have no problems with the cold and damp, and that’s what appealed to us. We’re absolutely amazed at the amount of space – because it’s new, we were expecting it to be a shoebox,
but there’s loads of room. We have 2 grandchildren and we’ve already heard other children visiting their grandparents, so we’re happy about bringing ours to visit. “The PCH staff have been brilliant and kept us informed every step of the way. I phoned up to find out about little things and they always helped. “The area’s being regenerated and you need to see it for yourself, these apartments are lovely. Hopefully this is the new up and coming part of Plymouth! “I’m extremely grateful to have one of these apartments. I‘m in heaven at the moment, it’s absolutely amazing.”
Filling the streets with colour
Children have been helping to make The Beacon beautiful by planting spring bulbs and strawberry plants in flower beds around the building. North Prospect residents and Plymouth City Council’s Neighbourhood Regeneration Team have been bedding in flowers at The Beacon as well as Titchy Park and Southern Close.
If you think any other areas could be brightened up with bulb planting, get in touch with the North Prospect parks Forum, who arrange the activities through the PCC Neighbourhood Regeneration Team, by calling Donna Hewart on 01752 306536.
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“It would have been a nightmare, especially with the dust, so I am thankful the accommodation was provided.” Shane Jones, Mi-space Project Manager, said: “My team here at PCH do our best to accommodate resident’s needs, whatever their circumstances. It was clear from our first meeting with Tracey, that the option of a hotel property would enable the work to be carried out with minimal impact to her and her family.”
Another resident Bob Furzeland, 71, from Drummond Close, said: “The odour coming from the sewage is particularly offensive. People are closing their doors and windows, particularly in the heat. It is not fair that some householders are effectively prisoners in their own homes because of the smell. Everybody would welcome a permanent solution.” Camels Head was built in the early 1960s and modern laws mean
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