Residents are leaving Marlborough House in Plymouth as plans for demolition unfold, with many finding new homes across the city.
The 14-storey building will be replaced with energy-efficient social housing. Although the redevelopment won’t start for a few years, many residents are leaving now. So far, 17 have moved, and 12 more are expected to follow soon.
Phil Burgoyne from Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) said they set up a team to help residents. This team has been working on-site to assist tenants with their moves. They’ve already helped 17 tenants find new homes, with some moving to different areas in Plymouth.
The team has met with tenants to understand their preferences for new homes. They prioritized these preferences when helping residents bid for new properties. Tenants have moved to various neighborhoods, including Ernesettle and the Barbican.
Some residents have found bungalows, houses, and flats. One tenant even moved into sheltered housing, which better suits their needs. PCH is also supporting leaseholders through the buy-back process for their properties.
PCH announced the regeneration plans last September. The building has maintenance challenges and cannot meet future energy efficiency standards. While it’s safe now, it won’t meet the Government’s energy performance targets by 2030.
PCH has been assisting residents in moving since the announcement. Marlborough House has 121 flats, with 11 privately owned. Some flats were already empty when the plans were revealed.
Social tenants are getting help to bid for new homes through Devon Home Choice. Leaseholders are also being supported in their next steps. PCH is buying back the remaining leasehold homes at market value.
Residents will receive compensation for moving. Social tenants get a Home Loss payment of £8,100, while leaseholders receive 10% of their property’s market value. They also get a Disturbance Payment to cover moving costs.
PCH will continue to support tenants and leaseholders over the next two years. Demolition won’t start until after 2026, and the redevelopment will take time. Designs for a new building will be created soon, followed by consultations with the community.
