Work starts on new adult care facility in Plymouth
Work is starting on a new £13 million care facility for adults with complex needs and learning disabilities in Plymouth.
The facility, which will be known as Meadow View, will transform a disused piece of land on Outland Road which was formerly the Council’s parks depot.
Meadow View will provide a day service for more than 60 adults and overnight respite care within seven bedrooms and seven self-contained apartments. Two of the apartments will also have facilities designed to support people in crisis who need a safe space to stay.
This will replace the city’s existing facilities, The Vine in Whitleigh and Colwill Lodge in Estover.
Meadow View’s location on the edge of Central Park, close to main bus routes, is more accessible for families and will also encourage community inclusion, with easy access to the park.
The name Meadow View was chosen with the help of existing customers, their families and staff.
Councillor Mary Aspinall, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “This is such an exciting moment for Plymouth. Meadow View isn’t just a new building, it’s a place where people will feel safe, supported and valued.
“We’ve worked closely with families and staff to make sure this new centre reflects what people really need, giving them space to build independent skills and connect with others.
“This new facility is about giving people the dignity and opportunities they deserve, in a setting that feels welcoming and full of life. I can’t wait to see Meadow View take shape.”
The new single storey building will be home to a range of activity rooms including a sensory room and crafts space, including a pottery room and kiln. A communal dining room will play host to shared meals and a kitchen will help people to build independent living skills.
The site will also be home to a cycle hub with accessible bikes available both to Meadow View customers and members of the public. There will be a Changing Places toilet which will be open for public use, with equipment such as hoists, curtains, adult-sized changing benches and space for carers to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
Meadow View has been designed to support the Council’s ambitions to reduce carbon emissions and will incorporate features that support energy efficiency measures such as solar power systems, air source heating and triple glazing, as well as greatly improving the biodiversity of the site.
The building’s exterior will be newly landscaped, transforming what was a predominantly concrete site into a garden that Meadow View customers can enjoy and which is better for nature.
Landscaping plans include new native hedgerows, a wildflower garden, pollinator-friendly ornamental shrub planting and raised flower beds. A total of 55 new trees will also be planted, with species such as silver birch, field maple, Scots pine, sycamore, small-leaved lime, common hornbeam and holm oak trees.
Devon Contractors will be carrying out the building work, with project management and oversight from Ward Williams. Work is due to complete at the end of summer 2026.
Nigel Whelan, Managing Director at Devon Contractors, said: “We are delighted to be starting work on this much-needed new adult care facility for Plymouth. It’s such an important project for our city — providing dedicated, specialist support for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs in a safe and welcoming environment.
“As a locally trusted contractor, we take great pride in working alongside Plymouth City Council once again to deliver a bespoke, high-quality building that will make a real difference to people’s lives for years to come. We look forward to getting to work on site and seeing this vision come to life for the community we’ve been proud to serve since 1946.”