Today, Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View, joined constructions industry and charity partners to officially launch the Veterans Self Build project at Barne Barton, Plymouth, an inspiring initiative aimed at transforming the lives of homeless and disadvantaged veterans.
The scheme is a collaboration between Latimer (the development arm of Clarion Housing Group), Lovell, Plymouth City Council, and national charity Alabaré, who have teamed up to empower ex-Armed Forces personnel who have struggled and been homeless in their civilian lives. Each veteran will be offered 12-14 months hands-on construction training plus the opportunity to live in one of the homes they have helped to build, all whilst contributing to the regeneration of the Barne Barton area.
Fred Thomas, MP of Plymouth Moor View said:
“The Veterans Self Build Project is a fantastic initiative that will have a big impact for the community in Barne Barton.”
“Plymouth has a long, proud military history and projects like this are crucial to empower those who have served our country and make our city great.”
“I’m proud to see our community come together to support veterans who have faced homelessness or disadvantage and look forward to watching the project progress.”
Plymouth, with its rich military heritage and status as a garrison and naval base, is home to a large veteran population. The Veterans Self Build project is especially significant in a city where military service has shaped so many lives. By supporting veterans who have faced homelessness or disadvantage, this initiative continues to honour Plymouth’s deep connection to the Armed Forces.
Clare Miller, Chief Executive at Clarion Housing Group said:
“The Veterans Self Build project embodies our commitment to providing more than just homes and is about investing in communities that need it most. This great project creates opportunities for the veteran community in Barne Barton, where we are undertaking a major regeneration to provide much-needed, modern social housing for residents. It’s a testament to what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared purpose, and we are proud to help veterans rebuild their lives.”
Alabaré, a charity who provide dedicated supported housing in Plymouth for vulnerable and homeless veterans, have partnered with Plymouth City Council and construction industry partners in two previous Veterans Self Build schemes in the city, and with Lovell in their Veterans Self Build projects in other areas of the UK.
Andrew Lord, Chief Executive at Alabaré said:
“We are delighted to be working with our partners to offer our next Self Build opportunity to veterans in Plymouth. A small, but significant, number of veterans struggle after leaving the Armed Forces. We know how much those veterans benefit from these schemes, not just from the skills and qualifications they will gain, but fundamentally from the shared endeavour, the rigour of the site, the creativity, all of which have such a positive impact on mental health, self-esteem and wellbeing. We see go on to find new employment in the construction, or related industries, and each will have the chance to live in a home that they have help build. It’s an opportunity to build a new life for themselves in the civilian world.”
Ross Field, Regional Managing Director at Lovell said:
“Lovell are delighted to be working with our Partners at Clarion, Alabaré and Plymouth City Council to deliver the Self Build Veterans Project at Barne Barton. The opportunity to help ex-military personnel develop new skills and explore new career opportunities in the construction industry, whilst working towards the delivery of a development they can potentially call home is one we are extremely excited to be involved with. We look forward to welcoming the first veterans to the project and helping them on their construction journey.”
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, said:
“We are delighted to see this project begin and look forward to working with partners to make it a success.
“We know from experience the difference that projects like this can make to the lives of the people involved, not just in terms of ensuring that they have good quality, secure accommodation, but in the skills, and in some cases training and employment, that are obtained in the process.
“I can’t wait to see the scheme progress from building site to homes over the next year.”
Latimer’s Barne Barton site, currently undergoing significant regeneration in partnership with Lovell, will see the construction of a mix of homes and apartments, with a focus on creating a vibrant, mixed-tenure community. The Veterans Self Build project will integrate with this wider effort, ensuring that veterans are fully supported throughout the construction process and beyond. Veterans will also have the opportunity to be allocated homes within the development, providing them with stability and a sense of belonging.
For more information about the Veterans Self Build project, please visit: https://alabare.co.uk/what-we-do/veterans/self-build-scheme/
