Southway

The neighbourhood is spread across an often steep topography, which provides good views to the open areas of woodland to the north and south. Southway lies to the north of the Southway Valley Local Nature Reserve, an area of woodland and grassland with extensive footpaths accessible from the housing estate. ==History==

Part of the city's extensive post-war housing programme, the land upon which Southway is built was previously occupied by three farms, Southway, Langley and Birdcage, as well as parts of four other farms, Clittaford, Heathfield, Hendwell and Wyvell (now Widewell). Some of these are commemorated in street names, and much of the original woodland and greenery remains in large pockets around the estate. Timeline • 1943 - the decision was made to build the estate, as extensive plans for the rebuilding of the blitzed city and its decimated housing stock were being made. • 1954 - Building work begins in September. • 1955 - The first residents take up occupancy. • 1958 - Southway Primary School opens.* 1962 - The secondary school [https://web.archive.org/web/20060629193434/http://web.ukonline.co.uk/stephen.johnson/air/ssch.jpg opens, followed by the estate's two other primary schools (Langley and Tamerton Vale) in the late 1960s. • 1968 - The second phase of construction is mostly completed. The 1960s phase also saw a large shopping centre added to the estate, complete with banks and a Public library [https://archive.today/20070626120034/http://www.mlasouthwest.org.uk/index.php?ID=360&UID=1448&GO=2, as well as two pubs The Falstaff The Merry Monk (The Abbots Way (The Old Southway))[http://www.pub-explorer.com/devon/pub/abbotswaysouthway.htm and The Clittaford Club a Private members club. There are also Anglican churches and a community centre [http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/communitycentres#sletter. Nearby is the Southway Industrial Estate, which provides a home to large companies such as BAE Systems and Invensys . 2009 - Southway Primary School changes its name to Beechwood Primary School, following its incorporation into the Southernway Federation along with Langley Primary School (now Oakwood Primary School). 2010 - Beechwood Primary School is relocated to a new building on the site of the former Southway Community College in Rockfield Avenue. ==Housing==

There are 2855 households in Southway, with an average household size of 2.4. The majority (roughly 66%) of houses in Southway are terraced, with comparatively fewer detached or semi-detached properties. Other potential residential developments have also been proposed in Southway, including on the sites of two former primary schools. and Bampfylde Way. Other themes for street names include Victorian Plymouthians (such as Burnard Close, after Robert Burnard), Mayors of Plymouth (such as Alger Walk, after William Henry Alger), and British islands and headlands (such as Lundy Close or Flamborough Road). ==Government==

Southway is within the Southway Ward of Plymouth City Council. It is part of the Plymouth, Moor View parliamentary constituency, having previously been part of the now-defunct constituency of Plymouth Devonport. ==Local amenities==

Southway has a lack of facilities for a neighbourhood of its size. Beechwood Primary is an amalgamation of the former Southway and Tamerton Vale primaries. It opened in September 2008 on the site of the former Southway Primary School, before moving to a new location, on the site of the former Southway Community College, in June 2010. had been founded by Peter Bindschedler in 1962 as Southway Comprehensive School. Its name later changed to Southway School before becoming Southway Community College in 1994. Religion Holy Spirit, Southway is a Church of England church within the Diocese of Exeter, located on Clittaford Road. The church building was built in 1960, largely funded by the trustees of the recently closed Kelly College Mission and constructed according to a design of local architect Mr D. McDonald. Originally a separate parish, it joined with the Crownhill church of St Peter at the beginning of 2006. ==Transport==

Southway is well-served with bus routes. The whole neighbourhood is within a 5-minute walk of a bus stop, and there are frequent services to Plymouth City Centre and Derriford Hospital. There are no designated cycle routes through the neighbourhood, largely because of the difficulties presented by the steep topography. ==Demography==

The population of Southway has a higher proportion of over-60s than the city of Plymouth as a whole. Life expectancy is higher in Southway than for Plymouth as a whole, although 24.2% of residents have had a long-term illness and only 61.2% of people consider their health as 'good'. ==Economy==

There are limited employment opportunities for Southway residents within the neighbourhood, with 2008 figures showing a job ratio of 0.55 per person. ==Crime==

Police statistics show that the level of crime and anti-social behaviour in Southway is average, with a rate of 11.18 per 1000 people in April 2011. However, in 2010 there was a 29.3% increase in crime compared with 2009, with particular rises in the rate of domestic burglaries (from 6 incidents to 27) and criminal damage (from 80 incidents to 102). According to surveys conducted by PACT and Plymouth City Council, the rate of anti-social behaviour in the community, and the visible lack of police patrolling, is a source of concern to many Southway residents. In 2008, it was ranked the 28th worst neighbourhood in Plymouth in terms of crime. ==References==