A total of 1,503 survey responses were received during the consultation, with over 96 per cent of respondents living in Plymouth. There were also detailed submissions by local groups and organisations, workshops with under-represented groups and interviews with key stakeholders. You can see the full consultation report here.
The Council’s independent consultation experts ECF identified a number of key themes that came out of the engagement process.
Overall, more nature and greenery was welcomed with specific queries and suggestions relating to translocation, tree species and biodiversity. Parents, grandparents and the business community welcomed the inclusion of the play village. Improved lighting, CCTV coverage and the solar panels were considered positive additions.
There were some specific concerns regarding the cycle path and especially how it would interact with pedestrians. Other themes included: ensuring the pop-up spaces would meet logistical requirements, limited seating in the play area and its size, dealing with antisocial behaviour, disability access across all areas, and queries relating to the long-term maintenance plan of the scheme.
Following extensive review of the feedback received through the survey, written submissions and interviews with key stakeholders, the Council is proposing 10 amendments within the final scheme design, which were scrutinised by the Growth and Infrastructure Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 January 2024.
These changes include:
- Retention of two extra existing trees – T007 Cockspur Thorn and T118 – Hybrid Whitebeam which can now be accommodated following changes to the design in their respective locations. This now results in only four trees being translocated from Armada Way to The Park. This responds to the desire of some environmental groups and a large number of individuals who requested that more of the existing trees are retained in their current location to retain canopy cover or fears relating to risk of survival, and or cost of translocating trees.
- Some tree species selection has been modified. This includes changing the proposed single ‘Tree of Heaven’ to a London Plane tree.
- The final design includes an increased amount of accessible green space which is beyond that of the design of the scheme which was consulted on.
- Removal of two east-west pedestrian footpaths to reduce conflict of two separate paths crossing the cycle way at the point of chicane. This will make the space safer for both pedestrians and cyclists.
- Changing of the colour of the granite denoting the cycle way to a dark pink hue to provide a strong visual differentiation to the other pedestrian areas.
- The new scheme will include a considerable amount of extra cycle parking in the form of stands and cycle hoops onto lamp columns.
- Further changes will be made to the pedestrian and cycle wayfinding to enable the cycle way and its use to be very clearly demarcated. This is in addition to the already proposed wayfinding monoliths and in-ground way markers but will include other pedestrian level markers and directional infrastructure. This will make the space safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
- The final scheme includes for the addition of a minimum of one drinking water station on Armada Way which will help reduce the use of single plastics and align with Plymouth’s Plan for Plastics. In addition, fewer plastic bottles could also reduce city centre littering.
- An increased amount of seating has been added to the play village area to ensure that there is enough seating opportunity for parents and carers whose children want to use the facilities. A variety of seating with high backs and arm rests is being added in response to requests from older people
- Defibrillator(s) will be installed on Armada Way. There are currently a number of defibrillators across the wider city centre area, but none on Armada Way directly.
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