Military veterans’ self-build project reaches completion

A veterans’ self-build project in Plymouth that provides 25 affordable homes has been completed.

The Stirling House Project, which houses six veterans in need of a new home, is a partnership between LiveWest, Plymouth City Council, and veterans’ charity Alabaré.

The development, based on the site of a former residential care home at Honicknowle Green, has seen a number of previously homeless military veterans involved in the construction of the self-contained affordable homes to rent.

The project has helped the veterans with employment, learning skills for life and helping them settle into their new homes.

Adrian Colwill, 49, joined the forces at the age of 16 and served in the Royal Army’s Artillery before performing a number of successful roles, including managing a hotel, when he left the military.

During this time, he experienced some mental health challenges which, despite being years after leaving the forces, left him on the brink of becoming homeless and at times living in a tent.

Colwill was involved in the project from the start and now lives in the home he helped to build.

He said: “I don’t know where I’d be now had I not had this experience because life has taken a vastly different path and a path that I will forever be grateful for. There are no superlatives to quantify what’s happened.

“I have been on the verge of homelessness, living in a bedsit and living in tents, living in all sorts of things throughout my adult life.
“This is somewhere I can have pride, can open the door and go ‘oh, I put that door in’.

“There isn’t one area of this house where I haven’t had a hand in… this is a home. To go from being virtually homeless to building my home is a phenomenal journey, something you wouldn’t believe was viable.”

The Stirling House Project began in 2021 after Plymouth City Council selected LiveWest as a partner to redevelop the site.

They joined forces with Alabaré who provide a range of accommodation and support for ex-Armed Forces personnel who have struggled in their civilian lives, and who run several veterans’ self-build schemes across the South and South West.

All of the 25 homes are occupied through social rent in order to provide support for households in high need and have air source heat pumps installed to improve the homes’ energy efficiency and help resident’s save on their energy bills.

Russell Baldwinson, executive director of development and investment at LiveWest, said: “We are delighted to have worked with our partners on such a flagship scheme for Plymouth, supporting the further regeneration of the city.

“The Stirling House Project has provided much-needed housing and offered ex-service personnel the unique and special opportunity to get involved with the construction of the homes, learn new skills and build on the scheme supported by Alabaré.

“We are proud to offer these high-quality and energy-efficient homes, where the build and design of the project focuses on the wellbeing of its residents.

“Our commitments to delivering more affordable homes helps to create communities where more families and individuals have a safe place to call home.”

The support provided by Alabaré has been funded thanks to grants from Plymouth City Council, LiveWest, Veterans’ Foundation and Army Benevolent Fund.

The development has benefited from a £1.7m grant from Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency.

Totnes-based, Coyde Construction, was contracted to build the Stirling House scheme which was designed by architects Form Design.