Union Street project wins “inspiring” award

It boasts a rich history as a bustling entertainment hub which in its heyday boasted pubs, nightclubs, cinemas, restaurants and theatres all in the space of a few hundred yards. These days its a symbol of decay - with more than a quarter of its beautiful historic buildings empty and crumbling.

But there is hope.

A scheme to transform Union Street by creating more than 300 homes has just won this year’s £10,000 Davidson Prize - which seeks to recognise transformative architecture.

300 Homes within a Union Street Mile focussed on community empowerment, and the reusing and extending of vacant structures along the street bringing affordable community housing and residents’ amenities to revive the area.

The Union Street Mile project was developed with Clifton Emery Design, Nudge Community Builders, Millfields Trust, Plymouth Energy Community, and Devon and Cornwall Planning Consultants.

Judging chairperson and chief executive of Public Practice, Pooja Agrawal, said: ‘The judges were truly inspired by 300 Homes within a Union Street Mile. We believe this proposal has the potential to be transformational.”