'A town in the making' Plymouth's new 'Urban Quarter' takes shape on edge of the city

Plymouth's new 'Urban Quarter' is taking shape on the land just outside of Plymouth's border - and it's part of the wider Sherford development

PlymouthLive readers have had a mixed reaction to the news that the next stage of Sherford's expansion is well underway. The new 'Urban Quarter' is rapidly emerging on land just beyond Plymouth's boundary.

The developer Taylor Wimpey is developing a variety of homes on this land, which sits on the fringes of South Hams but is seen as part of the broader Sherford development in Plymouth.

The designs for these new houses differ from those already built in the main Sherford area, but they will eventually connect to form the new town, expected to provide around 5,500 new homes.

The initial phase of the Sherford community received planning permission in August 2015, and construction began the following year. The first homes have been finished, and one of three planned primary schools is now open.

Work continues on key features such as streets and cycle paths, playing fields, civic spaces and local environmental considerations. The first section of the country park, which will ultimately span 500 acres, is also now open.

Commenter Billwizz says: “A colleague purchased a three-story townhome in Sherford during the initial development phase. However, after two years, she couldn't get out quickly enough. The primary concerns included the overall build quality, inadequate parking facilities, and the general ambiance of the area, which was often described as resembling a 'shanty town'.

"In retrospect, she deeply regrets this decision. Instead of prioritising the construction of a maximum number of huts, it would have been more prudent to allocate sufficient space for the vehicles associated with these properties. Potential solutions could include the incorporation of garage blocks or designated parking bays at the rear of each property.

"However, I acknowledge that implementing such measures would likely result in a substantial reduction in potential profits, which would never do. Pity they haven't finished stage one yet with the health centre, leisure complex, and green spaces. All of which were part of the planning agreement before even stage two was built.”

Northern_matelot adds: “I currently live in Sherford, and it really annoys me to see cars parked on the pavements in front of houses, especially when I see the empty communal car parks at the rear sat empty. People just can’t be bothered to walk to their houses!”

Duncs agrees: “I can't wait to see the shopping precinct area by the school finished - sorry I mean started! Even more houses, but still zero local amenities apart from a skate park, a relatively unused 3g sports pitch and a wasteland of a future sports field, nothing to see there in regards to changing areas, grass etc. It’s about time the council insisted on some of that rather than more overpriced houses being built.”

AJGreen replies: “Au contraire. The free sport facilities include tennis courts, five-a-side pitches, full size pitches, basketball and netball areas and are of good quality. The completed houses seem to be occupied so they must be affordable, right?”

Osten Sibly writes: “Urban quarter? Seriously? It’s a handful of pointy houses in the middle of a field, where it takes 6 or 7 minutes to drive to the nearest urban area where you might encounter such things as a shop. I do hope the pavements aren’t awash with vehicles parked all over them as is the case with the rest of this toy town development.”

endtheWEF wonders: “Since land is scarce, would it not make sense to build higher than 3 stories? Especially since there is allegedly a drive to make / enforce 1.5 million new homes, and we are importing more new people every week. It's like Plymouth can only manage small town architecture and then has a moan about not having enough development land.”

Lou-lou likes the area: “The houses are a really good size, especially the rooms. Much more to be done but it's still green. There's still lovely hedgerows and green areas left for wildlife, I think it has been done really sympathetically. My only gripe is that there's not enough affordable or social housing.

"It's the folk living on Bilacome/Elburton Road that will suffer, especially when they build on the Dunstone School site. The traffic will be horrendous.”

AJGreen thinks: “It's a town in the making. If you go and look around you'll see it's quite a good atmosphere and the sports complex for the kids is brilliant. I found the locals to be happy and friendly. The buildings are modern and of varying styles and requirements. What's not to like?”

Jannerjanner disagrees: “Half of them won't be there in 50 years time. They’re poorly built, and overpriced.”

Ocean lad agrees: They are poorly built, I have witnessed the shoddy workmanship myself. Just travel around the new builds in Devonport, 10 year old buildings that look 25 years old with the washed out render, plants growing out of the roofs and scaffolding constantly up.

"They have basically built slums and somehow sold them as desirable, I give it thirty years. Also don’t build a huge development without amenities! The developers should have been told no amenities, no development.”

How do you feel about the new development? Will it stand the test of time? Have your say in our comments section.