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Forches

The Forches estate is located on the eastern border of Barnstaple. There are currently 109 PRC Cornish properties owned by North Devon Homes on the estate. The properties are concentrated in a central location within six roads - Forches Avenue, Greenbank Road, Willshire Road, Elliott Close, Berry Road and Gould Road. 

History of Forches

Redevelopment

Timescales

History of Forches
The PRCs were built to create slum clearance dwellings in the late 1940s and 1950s. Forches was viewed as the estate where any "difficult families" would be relocated. So from the beginning, the estate has been labelled with an inferior reputation compared to other urban sites. This reputation has been perpetuated over the years, with families facing discrimination from local businesses and services.

The area around Forches is a settled residential area, the majority of residents are permanent and have a significant local connection. The estate does sit on a bus route into the town, but the single point of entry & exit to the area reinforces the insulate nature of the estate. The planning approval that we have gained for this project does attempt to answer the insular issues including many of the drainage problems being experienced on site. 

Redevelopment of the Forches estate

The redevelopment of Forches will deliver the following benefits:
  • Provide modern, well designed homes that will be cost effective to run
  • The creation of a better living environment for local residents on the estate
  • A more efficient bus service and better traffic flow within and outside the estate.
  • Employment and training opportunities for local residents
  • Substantial improvement to the reputation of Forches.

Work has started to secure a physical start on Phase 1 of works at Forches this year. Further ecology surveys are taking place and many of the planning conditions are being dealt with by the contractor (Keepmoat). Formal planning consent was provided with agreed Section 106 Agreement at the end of February this year. A contract has been signed with Keepmoat and funding has been secured from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for the 1st phase of works.

The 1st phase or works includes 47 new homes that will be social housing rented, 13 new homes that will be sold as shared ownership and 5 new homes that will be sold outright by the contractor.

The outcome from a recent funding bid to the Homes and Communities Agency will be known by the end of October.

 

Timescales
We are currently working to a completion date for Phase 1 of Forches by January 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions about anything on this page or about the PRC Project please contact a member of the PRC Project Team.

Please visit the Meet the Team page for their contact details.


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