We’re squaring up the top end of Old Town Street ahead of its new life as an events space for activities and pop ups. Contractors have been laying hundreds of small pieces of granite to create a new square following the triangle pattern on the ground in front of the Guildhall.
Elsewhere shoppers are enjoying more space on this street that was once dominated by cars and a taxi rank – it’s becoming a spacious place to sit out, relax and meander along.
Councillor Mark Lowry, city centre champion, said: “We want to create an environment that is attractive to visitors, shoppers and investors and we have already seen more interest from investors as a result of this work.
“Old Town Street now has space for people to sit outside, wide open walking areas and it’s great to see the scheme’s nod to Plymouth’s unique post war designs elsewhere in the city centre.”
The vast majority of work required to take place beneath the ground is finished – ie digging holes, sorting a myriad of utilities issues and installing rain gardens – and contractors are now working on surface improvements. Where possible, they have opened up sections of new walkways to allow shoppers more space. Along New George Street the plants are settling in nicely, new trees are flourishing, the retained trees will soon be out of their protective wooden corsets and grass has been planted. The contractors continue to work long into the night to keep up the pace of progress.