£200m garden suburb proposed for airport site

A £200m garden suburb, including about 1,500 homes, university facilities and a multi-use sports arena, could be created in Plymouth if newly revealed plans get the green light.Plym Vale is designed to be a new city quarter on the site of Plymouth Airport with walkable neighbourhoods connected by communal green spaces.A new University Quarter, with the University of St Mark and St John as its centrepiece, will be developed with two new squares, courtyards of student accommodation and a veterans’ rehabilitation village closely linked to a new multi-use sports arena and Derriford Hospital.About 1,500 homes would be built to provide a range of accommodation from starter-homes and social housing, to detached family houses, to supported homes and health facilities for older members of the community.Plym Vale would cost almost £200m and could create 350 construction jobs every year for the next ten years. Once built it will support 440 permanent jobs and generate tens of millions of pounds every year for Plymouth’s economy.Plymouth City Council would be in line to receive a £50m windfall as the majority owner of the freehold of the site.