Current location: Housing and homes > Neighbourhood regeneration > Efford Building Communities Initiative

Efford Building Communities Initiative

The Efford Building Communities Initiative (BCI) is a South West Regional Development Agency pilot programme that seeks to create a sustainable neighbourhood centre.

The Efford BCI was a five year programme of investment, ending in March 2010.

An external evaluation has been carried out by consultants Local Economy Solutions which has assessed how much has been achieved since the programme began. The full report and summary report is now available below.

The BCI focused on two different elements of regeneration:

Physical regeneration of Torridge Way - includes the demolition of the Royal Marine Pub, re-location of the St Paul’s Church with new community facilities and provision of a new extra care scheme with an improved public library.
Efford master plan - Shillam and Smith Architecture and Urbanism Consultancy were commissioned to complete a master plan for Efford - a framework that recommends detailed actions and identifies support required to implement service improvements and initiatives that secure the long term sustainable future for Efford.

A forward plan is being developed with partners to map out the way the master plan action plan will be delivered. Key themes are set out below:

Efford Youth Strategy - multi-agency approach to bring improvements to youth services, facilities, spaces, provision of parenting support and to tackle anti-social behaviour and health related issues.
Efford Area Action Plan - planning based intervention to feed into the Local Development Framework to include Site Allocation Development Plan.
A new Efford extended school - Children's Services and partners are working together to develop a brief for a new extended school in Efford, amalgamating two primary schools.
Efford Green Space Strategy - multi-agency approach to improving Efford’s green and open spaces.
Extended Health Services - multi-agency approach to tackle wide ranging health issues, to include, health promotion, healthy living initiatives, increase in active opportunities, improvements to primary care services and facilities.
Further physical improvements to Torridge Way - work to continue with next phase of physical redevelopment in Torridge Way, exploring physical improvement opportunities, including housing quality improvements and public realm works.
Efford skills development - multi-agency approach to develop audit of provision in relation to skills development, training and advice for return to work/business start up.
Community safety - multi-agency approach to tackle cross cutting community safety issues, in line with the Neighbourhood Policing Initiative.

The Heart of Efford Community Partnership (HECP)

HECP is continuing to be the lead community organisation for the BCI with a hard working committee, involving representatives from the community, Efford Youth Development Forum, local schools, local ward Councillors, Youth Service and Children’s Centre. The HECP also has a wide range of supportive stakeholder members.