Gun Wharf

Lacey Hickie Caley Architects were successful in a design and master-planning competition for the site. They subsequently designed a site-specific scheme with public consultation, guidance from Devon and Cornwell Housing Association, Plymouth County Council and the South West Regional Development Agency. The master plan was also designed with respect to PPGs (planning policy guidelines), the LPG (local planning guidance) and the Devonport Regeneration Local Framework master plan.

The brownfield site, donated by Plymouth CC, was a post-war estate in need of redevelopment. Existing 1950's houses were demolished and residents were temporarily re-housed during construction phases. The aim was to create a sense of place for returning residents and the layout is based around a Georgian circus - thus reviving the Georgian quality to the area that was lost during the heavy bombing raids of the Second World War.

Dealing with the gradient on site provided the opportunity to give some properties a view of the water below. It has a unique relationship to the water, and the river Tamar provides an interesting backdrop and views for the housing.

The use of Home Zone, an innovative design and layout technique reducing the impact of vehicles on site and offering priority to pedestrians, is seen as an important aspect to this project.

Problems on site, such as the proximity of Minister of Defence dockyard walls, the threat of buried WWII bombs in the area and retaining access to some properties during construction, were important considerations during the development of the project. Budget constraints meant that the conversion of existing buildings into community facilities has not yet been realised.