The scheme to deliver the new Millbay Boulevard is all about creating a direct and attractive walking and cycling link between the city centre and the waterfront at Millbay. The draft proposals demonstrated how the existing Bath Street could be widened to create this route and how it linked with the already constructed route to the south.
The proposals showed how the scheme would support new housing to the west and focused on some of the challenges and opportunities that the scheme created.
The project team wanted to offer stakeholders and the public the opportunity to comment on the look and feel of the draft proposals and assist them develop further the detailed scheme for delivery.
The public consultation exercise ran for six weeks from the 1 October 2018 until 12 November 2018 and the proposals were presented at three public events in the city during that time, these were:
- Union Street Party: Sunday 30 September
- Plymouth City Market, West End Plymouth City Centre: Monday, 1 October
- Plymouth City Market, West End Plymouth City Centre: Wednesday 3 October
Click on the thumbnails below to see a larger image:
The consultation generally and its events specifically were promoted through traditional media liaison and coverage using online and social media as well as using established stakeholder networks.
Consultation summary
The consultation response indicated good engagement across a wide range of stakeholders and the public and demonstrated a good level of interest in the scheme.
Understandably there was a lot of interest in the redevelopment of this part of the city and its future, with the rapid pace of change being experienced and plans for new housing being realised. As a result the majority of the comments received were not about the delivery of a new Millbay Boulevard at all, but more about what was happening and planned around it.
Questionnaire responses
The public and stakeholders were encouraged to go to the Council's webpage and complete questionnaire on-line, though at the public events there was the opportunity for people to fill these in manually.
We received 146 completed questionnaires and 13 separate written responses, below are the summary findings of the questionnaire responses:
Question 1: About who the respondents were
The responses came mainly from people who had a direct connection with Plymouth, either living in the city or working within it.
| I live in Plymouth | 59.45 per cent |
| I work in Plymouth | 30.41 per cent |
| I have a business here in Plymouth | 6.91 per cent |
| I'm a visitor | 2.30 per cent |
Question 2: Will the new boulevard provide you with a useful link that you will use?
The majority of respondents felt that the boulevard would provide them with a useful link that they would use.
| Yes | 56.08 per cent |
| No | 14.86 per cent |
| Not sure | 29.05 per cent |
Question 3: Do you agree that the new boulevard should have its own unique appearance?
There was overriding support that the new boulevard should have its own unique appearance.
| Yes | 81.76 per cent |
| No | 4.73 per cent |
| Not sure | 12.16 per cent |
Question 4: Do you consider that the design put forward here provides that uniqueness?
The respondents were not convinced that the current design was offering that uniqueness
| Yes | 36.49 per cent |
| No | 23.65 per cent |
| Not sure | 39.19 per cent |
Question 5: The boulevard works will result in the construction of a new high boundary wall with the Pavilions, this wall will have a significant impact on the new street and future homes that will face on to it, but it needs to be easily maintained. How should we deal with its appearance?
The majority view was for something creative either as an opportunity for some artwork or a colourful creative finish.
| It's an opportunity for some unique artwork | 32.43 per cent |
| It needs a colourful creative finish | 14.86 per cent |
| It needs a quality and reserved architectural finish | 39.86 per cent |
| It needs a simple cladding treatment | 2.03 per cent |
| I'm not concerned | 7.43 per cent |
Question 6: The boulevard design creates a new pedestrian only public space where it meets Union Street, how do you think this space should be used?
There was clear support for the public space to be an important city square which announced this route to the waterfront at Millbay.
| As an important city square announcing the route to the waterfront | 41.15 per cent |
| As a small city square for informal recreation such as seating | 13.40 per cent |
| As a public gathering space for local events | 22.49 per cent |
| As a simple decorative space that people pass through | 15.31 per cent |
| I'm not concerned | 4.78 per cent |
Question 7: From what you have seen is there anything missing from the proposals that you think we should consider?
There was considerable response to this question and the key summary responses are shown below in order of occurrence:
- The majority response focussed on the redevelopment of this part of the city and its future rather than about this scheme to deliver a new Millbay Boulevard.
- There was concern that the scheme appeared not to be delivering dedicated facilities for cyclists either in the form of a cycle path and supportive facilities for cycling.
- There was further support to Question 5 to deliver a creative piece of artwork or innovative treatment to the new high boundary wall with the Pavilions.
- There was strong support for the scheme particularly to deliver the green elements of it.
- There was a call for the new boulevard to be fully pedestrianised.
- There was concern that for people with physical impairments including the partially sighted that sharing pedestrian space with cyclists would lead to conflicting spaces.