The Stirling House Project is a self-build project in Plymouth, which has provided 25 new affordable homes, and houses six veterans, many of whom were involved in the construction of the homes.
The project came from a partnership between LiveWest, Plymouth City Council and veterans’ charity Alabaré to provide much needed affordable social housing in the area.
Based on the site of a former care home at Honicknowle Green, the self-build site saw a number of previously homeless military veterans involved in the construction of the self-contained affordable homes.
As well as receiving a new home, the project also helped the veterans learn new skills for life and helped them gain employment.
Adrian, 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, Adrian 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. Adrian was involved in the project from the start and now lives in the home he helped to build:
Adrian | veteran resident
“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.”
After being selected by Plymouth City Council in 2021 to redevelop the site, LiveWest 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 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. 19 of the homes are one and two bedroom flats, with the remaining being a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses.
The large four-bedroom house was also designed as a wheelchair adapted property, helping to address the significant shortage of such properties across the city of Plymouth.
Councillor Chris Penberthy | cabinet member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development
“The Stirling Project has been far more than just a housing scheme; we’ve built far more than just homes. By working in partnership, we've managed to build new skills, new careers and new starts for our veterans and I’m so proud of everyone involved.”
Throughout the project, Alabaré provided support to the veterans, helping them to rebuild their self-esteem, mental health and wellbeing, and empowering them to go on to live successful, independent civilian lives in the new homes they built.
The support provided by Alabaré has been funded thanks to grants from Plymouth City Council, LiveWest, Veterans’ Foundation and Army Benevolent Fund.
The development benefited from a £1.7 million grant from Homes England.
Major (Rtd) Ken Hames MBE | chief operating officer of Alabaré Veterans’ Self-Build Scheme
“Days like today are what makes the veterans’ self-build stand out. Our veterans have embraced the opportunity to learn new skills on the building site which has led to new employment and new homes for them. However, it is the personal development that happens alongside it that is fundamental to the overall transformation in they report in their lives.”
