More than 500 individuals and families across Devon and Cornwall have become shared owners through SO Living, Plymouth Community Homes’ shared ownership brand.
The milestone marks a significant achievement for SO Living and highlights the life-changing impact shared ownership can have for local people, helping them get onto the property ladder and remain in the communities they know and love.
The landmark 500th sale was achieved at Filham Chase in Ivybridge (Phase 2b) in March 2026. As of August 2026, SO Living has sold 532 homes across 36 developments across the region, including 328 in Plymouth, 106 in Cornwall, 83 in the South Hams, 14 in West Devon and 1 in Teignbridge.
For many customers, shared ownership has provided an opportunity that may otherwise have been out of reach. Cameron Dickinson took his first step onto the property ladder with SO Living in 2023, moving out of his family home and into a brand-new shared ownership property in Plymouth.
Cameron said: “Without shared ownership, I don’t think I would be in a house by now. Choosing this route has enabled me to buy a house when I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to, and I’m now able to live independently in my own place where I can start the next chapter of my life.
“My favourite thing about my home is that it is brand new. In the winter, the gas bills are negligible and it’s comfortable, efficient and cheap to run.
“I would recommend shared ownership and have recommended it to others already, especially where you may not have the earnings or savings to buy a home conventionally. It has opened doors which wouldn’t have otherwise been available, and if shared ownership didn’t exist, it would be quite possible that I would have still been living with my parents.”
Cameron Dickinson, Shared Owner
Bill McCarthy moved into his shared ownership property in Plymouth in 2016 after previously living in a park home which became unsuitable for his needs. Bill added: “I chose shared ownership, as it gave me the opportunity to get myself on the property ladder and at my age have a new home.
“I like the position it’s in, in a small area, which is nice and you get to know your neighbours. I’ve got my own parking space, a nice patio and outside space, where you can sit out in the summer and relax.
“It’s somewhere where you’ve got your own comfort and you can do your own thing. I’ve got good neighbours, we enjoy talking to each other over the fence and outside.
“I would recommend shared ownership, which I have done to a relative of mine who is shortly going to be moving into a shared ownership home.”
Bill McCarthy, Shared Owner
Celebrating this milestone for SO Living, Tracey White, Programme Manager at Plymouth Community Homes, said: "Reaching 500 shared ownership sales is a fantastic milestone, but what matters most is the difference these homes have made to local people and families.
"Every sale represents someone taking a step onto the property ladder, often in an area where they otherwise may never have been able to afford to buy a home.
"Over the last 13 years, we've helped hundreds of people achieve their ambition of home ownership, and we're incredibly proud of the role SO Living has played in making that possible."
Shared Ownership is a government-backed scheme designed to help people buy a home by purchasing a share of a property and paying rent on the remainder. The model provides an affordable route into home ownership for those who may struggle to buy on the open market.
SO Living’s first homes were sold in North Prospect, Plymouth, in 2013 as part of the largest regeneration scheme of its kind in the South West. By its completion in 2024, 195 shared ownership homes had been sold as part of the development.
Since then, SO Living has expanded across Devon and Cornwall, helping local people buy homes in communities including Plymouth, Exeter, Topsham, Sherford, Lifton and Saltash.
Andrew Lawrie, Head of Development & Housing Sales at Plymouth Community Homes, said: "This milestone demonstrates the important role shared ownership plays in helping local people access affordable homes while supporting the delivery of new housing across the region.
"It's testament to the hard work of colleagues and partners over many years, but most importantly it represents more than 500 households who have achieved home ownership through SO Living."
SO Living is currently selling shared ownership homes across Devon and Cornwall. To find out more about available homes and whether shared ownership could be right for you, visit the SO Living website.
Figures exclude shared ownership resales.
