SHERFORD CONSORTIUM UPDATE ON COMMUNITY FACILITIES AT SHERFORD
Please see below an update from the Sherford Consortium on progress across key community facilities and infrastructure projects at Sherford.
Western Neighbourhood Local centre:
A planning application has been submitted for Sherford's first local centre. The mixed-use development, located off Hercules Road, will provide a vibrant community facility with a 4,500 square foot convenience store, 6,000 square foot nursery, three flexible retail units, and 40 apartments above the commercial spaces, plus parking facilities. If planning consent is granted, construction could begin in early 2026 with the centre opening in 2027.
The Town Centre:
Plans for Sherford's Town Centre are progressing, with discussions underway with the Local Authorities over the proposed designs and planning strategy. There will be community amenities within the Town Centre, including a town hall/multi-purpose building and a healthcare facility. A public consultation will be held in 2026 before a planning application is submitted, to ensure the community has a chance to see the designs and share their views.
Leisure Centre:
Every effort is being made to deliver this project, though there are challenges that are taking time to work through. This year, a competitive tender process sought a new operator for the facility, and discussions are now taking place with Plymouth City Council as we work to identify viable delivery options. This is a multi-million pound project requiring significant capital investment together with an obligation to ensure longer term sustainability for the community.
GP practice:
We are working with local NHS partners to move forward plans for community health and wellbeing provision in Sherford. While the permanent facility will be located in the Town Centre, an interim option is being explored for a temporary GP practice, within a temporary building provided by the Sherford Consortium. The NHS are leading this project; submitting a planning application, securing the funding to convert the building, and running the temporary practice. We hope that this will come to fruition in 2026.
Secondary school:
Sherford is fortunate to be surrounded by good secondary schools with capacity for local students. The timing of any future provision has yet to be agreed and discussions are ongoing between the Sherford Consortium, Devon County Council (the education authority) and South Hams District Council to reach consensus on a delivery strategy, that ensures a secondary school can be built when it is needed, and that decision will be made by the Department for Education in the future.
Sherford Business Park:
Work is starting this month on Sherford Business Park to put the necessary infrastructure in place for commercial development. Part of Sherford Business Park is to become home to Babcock International Group, as it creates an Integrated Logistics Hub and Advanced Manufacturing Base. The 18.8-acre site, which forms part of the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport will become the first major employer with premises at Sherford, marking an important milestone for the town.
