We’re backing the city centre all the way – that’s the message coming out loud and clear from Council leader Tudor Evans at today’s Natural Infrastructure and Growth Scrutiny Panel.
More than £65 million has been pledged by the Council for specific projects over the next five years the committee heard as they were given an update on the Council’s continued investment and why it is so important.
Tudor Evans leader of the Council said “The city centre is the beating heart of Plymouth and we want it to thrive as a place where people live, work and play.
“It’s fair to say it’s skipped a few beats recently, which is why it is so important to remind and reassure people that there is still over £250 million investment in the pipeline – the Civic Centre, the Guildhall, Armada Way, future development at Brunel Plaza and investment in the West End, including the new Community Diagnostics Centre.
“We are getting back on track. The Civic Square is finished, every day you can walk down Old Town Street and New George Street and see the difference in pace and progress on this scheme. The diggers are on site in Colin Campbell Court for the CDC, look up and much of the stunning stonework is now gleaming, thanks to our work with the Historic England. This is huge progress and there’s more to come.”
The city centre it is home to over 500 businesses, five per cent of the city’s businesses who employ over 6,200 people. It is also home to major organisations such as the University and the Theatre Royal.
A report to scrutiny highlighted the ‘considerable pressures in the last five years as consumer trends have shifted, Covid and lock downs and cost of living have all impacted. Plymouth City Centre has to reinvent itself and adapt’. The Council has played its part to help attract new visitors. In the last five years the Council has supported delivery of transformational investments, including:
- The Box – new cultural hub, including a museum, gallery, archive spaces and café with a new public square for performances and events.
- The Barcode – new complex which houses a multi-screen cinema, major restaurant outlets and other leisure attractions.
- Civic Square – restoring our listed park and garden, including replacement of the bowtie paving, new tree planting, benches, and lighting
- West End – improved public realm, new planters, seating, building facades with West End brand / colours throughout the West End.
- Community Diagnostics Centre (CDC) – 3,500sqm building as the first phase of the regeneration of the West End / Colin Campbell Court.
- Guildhall – secured £12m grant funding through the Future High Streets Fund for the Guildhall to be refurbished and modernised, so that it can hold more events, attract more visitors and help Plymouth’s night-time economy.
- Civic Centre – secured FHS funding towards refurbishing the building to create a campus for City College Plymouth, as well as up to 144 new homes.
- Brunel Plaza – the redevelopment of Plymouth railway station and the area around it, with over £40m investment in concourse improvements, infrastructure upgrades and Intercity Place transformation for new teaching facilities for the University of Plymouth’s allied health professions.
- Land assembly – acquired strategic assets in the city centre to allow regeneration to take place, including the land for the CDC and at Bath Street, for 136 new homes.
The committee were discussing the city centre ahead of a cabinet decision next month, which recommends that the Cabinet endorse the principles and overall approach of the Plymouth City Centre Company BID and its draft Business Plan for 2025 to 2030 and approve the Council’s financial and in-kind contributions totalling £590,000.
Nigel Godefroy, Chair of Plymouth City Centre Company added: “The tide is beginning to change. The numbers of people now coming into the city centre are now going up and more new businesses are joining us.
“It has been an incredibly tough trading time for High Streets all over the country but we are bucking the trend. Now we need to keep creating a city centre that’s exciting, lively and full of plenty of different places to shop, eat, drink, relax and play.”