Introduction to the Public Consultation
We are seeking your views on proposals by LiveWest to develop 52 Affordable Homes, public open space, ecological enhancement areas, allotments and a commercial space, at Coombe Road, Kings Tamerton.
Have your say by writing to us at planning.exeter@carneysweeney.co.uk
Who are LiveWest?
At LiveWest, we believe in a home for everyone.
We are a charity and Registered Provider of Affordable Housing who own and manage over 40,000 homes across the South West, from Cornwall to Gloucestershire. We have ambitious plans to invest £1bn in the South West economy and to build 5,000 new affordable homes in the region over the next five years.
This is part of LiveWest taking huge steps towards alleviating the region's housing shortage, in an area of high housing need as well as high house prices which makes accessing housing particularly challenging for many families. To help achieve this we develop and offer homes for social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership sale.
Find out more here: LiveWest
Site Context
The site is located within the city of Plymouth in the predominantly residential neighbourhood of Kings Tamerton. The site is bordered by Kings Tamerton Road to the west and Coombe Way to the north and consists of grass fields with some tree cover, particularly along the perimeter of the site.
To the north and west, the site is surrounded by residential housing along Kings Tamerton Road and Coombe Way. To the south, there is a wooded area and further residential housing along Adams Crescent. The St Budeaux Bypass is also located to the south east. The eastern boundary of the site is adjacent to a wooded area leading towards industrial and commercial premises on the opposite side of the A3064/St Budeaux Bypass.
Planning Status
The site benefits from a grant of Outline Planning Permission (OPP), dated 8th July 2022 for the proposed development as set out below:
“Outline application for up to 70 affordable low carbon homes and commercial space (flexible use), with all matters reserved except for access”
The site is also allocated for development in the adopted Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan.
LiveWest are now preparing the Reserved Matters application to include details of layout, appearance, landscaping, and scale.
The need for development
A Local Government Association Report in April 2024 stated that the city of Plymouth has struggled to meet the growing demand for affordable housing with annual averages for the delivery of affordable housing being well below pre-pandemic years. The site will provide for 100% affordable housing at a time where the need for it is most pertinent.
An overarching objective of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan, the Development Plan most relevant to the decisions for planning applications, is the need to deliver a supply of affordable housing to meet the needs of the city and its environs.
A review of the progress of the Joint Local Plan in achieving its vision was published in 2024. The need for more affordable housing was emphasised with a recognition that greater levels of provision of affordable housing will be required. The Council understand the importance of ensuring the planning system takes every opportunity to maximise the supply of affordable housing and that the development of affordable housing is supported across the plan area. To achieve this goal, the Council are reliant on proposals such as these by LiveWest, to develop suitable and available sites for affordable housing.
The grant of Outline Planning Permission in July 2022 confirmed that the principle of development of the site is acceptable, recognising the benefits provided by a development of 100% affordable housing.
The Proposals
Whilst the Outline Planning Permission secures the principle of development of the site, the forthcoming application will include details of design and appearance that will be submitted to the Council for approval. The proposed design approach is set out in the enclosed 'Design Document'.
In principle, we are seeking permission to construct a scheme of 52 homes offering a mix of 1, 2 , 3 and 4 beds. The 100% affordable scheme is proposed to comprise of 44 social rented homes and 8 to be sold as shared ownership.
Please use the links available on this webpage to access the proposed Site Layout and Design Document.
If you would like to comment on this proposal, please send your comments to planning.exeter@carneysweeney.co.uk
Further Information
Ecology
The National Planning Policy Framework and the Adopted Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan provides for the protection of statutory designated areas and notably habitats from the adverse effects of development. The purpose of the planning system is to contribute to “minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures”.
As such, existing landscape features, including the boundary hedgerows and the primary east to west hedgerow through the centre of the site will be retained where possible and incorporated into a site wide Green Infrastructure Strategy which will prevent habitat fragmentation.
Dedicated ecological habitat areas are to be provided across the proposed development, particularly in areas of the site that provide multi-faceted benefits such as around the surface water attenuation pond to the east where pedestrian footways are also proposed to connect to the Local Nature Reserve.
Wider gains for biodiversity will also be achieved through the establishment of a new Local Nature Reserve to the east of the site.
Low Carbon Homes
The application will be supported by a detailed Energy Strategy, confirming the measures to be taken to reduce carbon emissions generated by the development. LiveWest are committed to developing energy efficient homes and commit to an average SAP score across the development of 92. A SAP score of 92 equates to an EPC rating A, which means the dwellings will be very energy efficient, leading to lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions.