The article below was published in Inside Housing on 19 September 2008:
Dominic Church Senior policy advisor, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment writes:
"Gun Wharf is a regeneration project in a fairly tough part of Plymouth. The design works with the features of the site, which slopes down to an estuary with views across to Cornwall. Before there was a generic housing estate [on the land], which didn’t pick up on local characteristics. It’s a challenging site because it is a small strip with Ministry of Defence land on both sides.
‘The shared space has a really nice feel, round a green space in the middle with an amphitheatre. That is a result of consultation work with the community. It was always the intention to have a good public space for children to play, for the community to meet. There was quite a lot of debate about what that should look like and it is really nice to see that it has worked out.
‘They have taken a home zone approach to all the streets. There is really nice streetscaping and last time I was there, there were lots of kids riding around on bikes.
‘The actual design of the buildings picks up on local features. The local stone is a slightly bluish-red limestone, and they use local slate. It feels like part of Devon, unlike much of Plymouth. It really is a distinctive place.
‘I’ve been there several times and I’ve seen it establishing itself. It’s quite a tough area and then you stumble on this little oasis. It was a keystone for the whole development of the area, it shows commitment to the local area and builds confidence."
Gun Wharf, Plymouth
Architect Lacey Hickie Caley Architects
Social landlord Devon and Cornwall HA
Completed 2006
Number of dwellings 99
