More change is on the cards as the West End of Plymouth’s city centre gets ready for regeneration.
A demolition contract has been awarded to Gilpin Demolition Ltd to tear down emptied buildings on Western Approach – this is part of moves to prepare the site for regeneration schemes including a proposed West End Health and Wellbeing centre.
Strip-out work is due to start next week in the now-empty buildings from 10 to 22 Western Approach. It is expected the entire demolition programme will take around 16 weeks.
A number of car parking spaces at Colin Campbell Court are being let to the contractors while the work takes place, but there are plenty of alternative spaces at the nearby Western Approach multi-storey. No road closures are planned although there will be a bus lane closure for seven weeks from 3 October to 21 November. The perimeter road within the car park directly behind the buildings due to be demolished will also be closed.
Most of the dismantling work will take place within the building’s plots although a section of the pavement at the front of Western Approach will need to be closed for a number of weeks. The contractors intend to close the Western Approach entrance to Colin Campbell Court car park overnight for two nights on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 November.
The demolition is part of the enabling works ahead of the proposed West End Health and Wellbeing Centre, and funding from the Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund is being used to facilitate the demolition. Planning permission for the centre has been granted however the project remains subject to business case approval and a confirmed funding source.
Councillor Mark Shayer, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Economic Development said: “We have steadily been acquiring properties in this area for years to enable our longer term regeneration plans to get underway.
“As a city we have committed to regenerating this part of the city centre, opening it up for future investment opportunity and strengthening the links from the city centre to the sea.
“The proposed new health and wellbeing centre would be a boost for the people who live nearby as well as shoppers who could be able to access health support in a really convenient place.”
City Centre Manager Steve Hughes added: “These demolition works bring us a step closer to regenerating this part of the city centre. We know there is some way to go but the proposed health hub centre would tie in perfectly with our vision for a more diverse and vibrant West End.”
Earlier this month Plymouth Community Homes gave more detail about exciting regeneration plans for Bath Street. The city’s largest social housing landlord announced plans for a £33.5 million eco-friendly neighbourhood in partnership with the Council offering more than 140 new affordable homes to rent and buy.
Once regenerated, the area will complete the planned Millbay Boulevard scheme, which will connect the newly created coastal quarter to Plymouth city centre.