As we draw closer to Christmas and the New Year, I’d like to take the opportunity to wish all our residents a happy and enjoyable festive season, however you are spending the time.
I hope you will have the opportunity to join in the festivities with friends, family or others in your community, as well as take some time for yourself to recharge.
This has been another busy year for all of us in Plymouth and as I reflect back over the past 12 months, I am proud of what has been achieved. Not just by the Council but also the many partners that we work with on a daily basis.
While we have not been immune to the pressures seen in most local authorities across the UK, we have worked hard to deliver the services that are important to you.
In 2024 that included looking after 514 children in our social care system, supporting more than 3,700 vulnerable adults, collecting nearly 74,000 tonnes of refuse and recycling and maintaining more than 31,000 streetlights, 870km of roads and 903km of footways and cycle paths.
We have remained ambitious for our city and made huge strides in driving forward its economic growth, all the while having a key focus on building a better Plymouth. Not just for us but for our children and our grandchildren.
I would like to reflect on a small handful of our achievements...
In the last few months, we have signed contracts to secure the biggest sport and health investment deal in the region – bringing a new significant sports hub to Devonport. The £23m site will not just be for elite, super-fit athletes. We are working with partners including Plymouth Argyle Football Club and Plymouth Albion RFC to create facilities that will help everyone in Plymouth remain healthy and well.
We have completed our £18m district centre scheme at Derriford – a new heart for the north of the city anchored by a massive M&S store (that I am sure will be frequented by many of you over the next few weeks).
I am also thrilled that just in the last couple of days it is all systems go on the first purpose-built commercial units within the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport. Costing around £8m, four units will be built that can help the region’s growth success story in the marine, defence, space, advanced manufacturing, engineering and clean energy sectors. Just this project alone is expected to generate around 138 full-time jobs. We have also recently submitted a planning application for the next phase of the Oceansgate development. We are looking at creating a series of ‘innovation barns’ – high spec large industrial units that can be used for workshops and prototyping. The Council alone is investing over £3m into this project.
We have come together to celebrate and have fun – nearly one million people have visited The Box. This Christmas – why not come along and experience a flotilla of giant Royal Naval ship’s figureheads that sail above your head, learn about our planet in a natural history gallery packed with insects, skeletons, pickled marine specimens and of course visitor favourite Mildred the Mammoth. Over 100,000 people attended our annual Fireworks extravaganza, and thousands came to The Hoe for our Summer Sessions festival – with dates already announced for next year, including The Corrs and Snow Patrol. Get your tickets now!
In the heart of our city, we have kickstarted regeneration schemes to refurbish our much-loved Tinside pool (£10m project) and the Guildhall in the city centre, completed the long- awaited works in Old Town Street and New George Street and, of course, started the exciting works in Armada Way. Whilst the construction for this scheme will cost nearly £30m, 62% of the project will be funded from sources other than the Council. Plus, earlier this year the Council bought back the Civic Centre and unveiled exciting proposals to create a major new campus focusing on delivering future green and jobs and skills. This includes a partnership with City College!
The future is definitely looking bright for our city centre, and I look forward to seeing it transform.
Work to open a new adult care facility near Central Park got the green light, with the Council committing over £12.5m to providing both daytime care, short respite breaks and emergency support for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs. And we opened four new family and wellbeing hubs across the city – helping provide vital support and services to families, from parenting guidance and volunteering opportunities to debt advice and fitness sessions. All directly in the community.
Following a £30m investment, in the summer we opened The Park, Plymouth’s new crematorium. A modern facility with a café that really is a special place for families and friends to come together in really difficult times.
Housing continues to be a challenge and the whole country is experiencing a housing crisis. We are steaming ahead with our Plan for Homes 4, aiming to deliver 5,000 new properties by 2029. We’ve just announced an exciting new partnership with Homes England that aims to bring new homes to the city centre and recently purchased the Royal Building in the city to provide temporary accommodation for homeless families. A £5m project that will be a vital facility for many in the city.
We are acutely aware that the cost-of-living pressures have remained a feature in the daily lives of many of our residents and we continue to work hard to support residents who are strapped. We have helped thousands of children through our Fit and Fed scheme, making sure that during the summer holidays children can access free fun activities, as well as a healthy nutritious lunch.
Throughout the winter we are distributing over £2 million to families who are in financial crisis or homeless, through the Household Support Fund. And we are helping to fund 30 local organisations to provide welcoming spaces this winter, ensuring people who need help have a warm, safe space to spend time in, with many providing extras such as free Wi-Fi, cooking facilities, activities and refreshments.
If you are having a tough time and need help and support, please go to our Cost of Living Hub and see all the help that is available.
You can see more of our achievements here, in our end of year video Plymouth City Council's look back at 2024
As we look forward to 2025 we will continue to look for ways to add to our package of support for residents during the cost-of-living crisis, whilst delivering our ambitious plans to help make Plymouth safer, more prosperous, and greener.
I make no apologies for being so ambitious, even in such difficult times. In fact, it is precisely because we are facing such difficulties that we must be ambitious.
We need to be ambitious for Plymouth. Ambitious for all the many people who need the Council’s help. And ambitious for what we hope will be better times ahead, for all of us, working together.
As we move through 2025 we will share updates with you on how work progresses, alongside further achievements as Plymouth City Council continues to deliver for you.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy and safe New Year.
Councillor Tudor Evans
Leader of Plymouth City Council