This summer a facelift started on Bull Point Barracks as part of a phased project to transform the Grade ll listed buildings, the first phase has now been completed.
This regeneration project is the brainchild of LiveWest and The Pioneers Project CIC – a Plymouth-based charity that offers holistic support to children, young people and families across Plymouth, South East Cornwall and the South Hams.
The first phase of the redevelopment focussed on brightening up the site through artwork, until the buildings are brought back into use. The Barne Barton community collaborated with various artists on the creative board art project. Over 60 local residents came together to create their artwork to add to the building with many finding the group art session therapeutic.
Lisa Dawson at The Pioneer Project CIC, said: “This truly has been a wonderful collaboration with the community of Barne Barton. It’s exciting to see people coming together with the launch of the community art project.
“We began with a consultation to find out what the community thought the best use for the Bull Point Barracks would be, and we had many fantastic recommendations.
“Their feedback has helped us to chart our strategy for how the site will be developed and managed.
“We are excited about the opportunities that the redevelopment will provide for the community of Barne Barton.
“The community art project brought the community together– children, young people, families and people of all ages. It inspired creativity as they worked with various artists to create personalised digital, painted or graffiti artwork for the site.
“This project is such a good way to kickstart the phased transformation of the barracks into a community hub for Barne Barton. We would like to thank Wolseley UK for funding the materials to create the art.”
Simon Morris at Wolseley UK, said: “It is an absolute pleasure to be able to support and work with Livewest on this project and would very much like to continue our support to the local community and other projects that come through. It was lovely to see such great artwork by the children and local families. I am personally really looking forward to the development of the Bull Point Barracks and what impact it will have with the local community.”
Nathan Daniels a young LiveWest resident and volunteer with The Pioneers Project said: “I loved the two-day art board project. It was lovely to have sunny and dry days to be able to interact with local residents and discuss what we can do with the Barracks in the future.”
The art produced for the project has been used to cover and secure windows. The site was open to members of the public to view a gallery of the artwork.
Justine Cheffers, Community Connector at LiveWest said: “Firstly, I would like to thank our partner Wolseley UK who through their funding, have supported the local community to get involved in the regeneration of Bull Point Barracks.
“Wolseley UK have funded 60, 2.4 m x 1.2 m art boards, as a social value contribution.”
“The community art project is the first public event at the barracks and marks an opportunity for the community to get involved in the site and creation of a community hub and help shape the project and the area where they live.
“LiveWest has a large number of homes in Barne Barton which is one of our Neighbourhood In Focus areas.
“We are really pleased to see the first fruit of the collaboration between The Pioneer Project CIC and Barne Barton community.
“The planning and execution of this project, even from the initial consultations, has contributed to the community feeling supported and heard, and it has also given them a sense of ownership of the site.
“Although it is still early days of the regeneration, we would like to encourage the community to get involved in other related activities on the site when they become available, and even in the long-term.”