Source: City of Plymouth
One of Plymouth’s most recognisable landmarks is about to come back to life.
Planning approval has today been granted for the transformation of the Civic Centre – a building that’s long been a symbol of the city’s post-war ambition – into something exciting for Plymouth’s future.
BDP Architect Mark Braund told the committee it was a rare opportunity to secure the future of one of Plymouth’s most important and recognisable buildings and a nationally important listed building.
He said: “The building’s defining features will be carefully restored – the distinctive gull-wing roof, the Murano glass columns, the reflection pool and key elements of the original façades.
“Where contemporary interventions are needed, they have been designed to sit respectfully alongside the historic building, referencing the design rigour of the original plans, and using durable, high-quality materials that clearly distinguish old from new while preserving its architectural significance.”
Capital&Centric, appointed as preferred developer earlier this year, will lead the conversion of the tower into 144 design-led city centre homes. One and two-bedroom apartments that take full advantage of the building’s striking architecture, meeting the latest national space, accessibility and tall buildings standards while delivering a new standard of city living that Plymouth simply hasn’t had before.
Below, the lower floors and podium will become a new city centre campus for City College Plymouth – welcoming up to 2,000 students and putting Plymouth at the heart of the UK’s emerging blue-green economy. The plans include:
• Ground floor – a public-facing welcome into the city. A careers hub, sustainable bistro/restaurant, wellness spa and a digital space with AR and VR facilities
• Lower ground floor – six workshops for hands-on technical teaching, completely transforming the former basement
• First floor – classrooms for formal teaching.
The campus will offer up to 60 courses covering the city’s emerging marine sector – the blue sector – as well as a host of programmes in the environmental sector – the green sector. Courses could cover construction, engineering, energy and science to offshore wind, electric vehicle technology, battery storage, net zero and sustainable technology.
The approved works include a full package of internal and external upgrades – new lift cores and staircases to meet current fire regulations, replacement cladding and glazing, a new glazed roof structure, a spiral staircase and bridge link between the Council House and Civic Centre, and a re-landscaped public realm with new planting, seating and the pond beneath the link that connects the tower with the Council House refurbished.
Parking was specifically raised by a number of members at today’s Planning Committee but they heard that the development is intentionally car-free and that the project was extremely close to a major transport hub – Royal Parade.
The number of cycle parking spaces for both tower residents and college was also questioned. At over 200 spaces with most reserved for residents, the committee wanted to see more cycle parking, particularly with the number of students likely to cycle. A proposal for 50 more visitor cycle spaces either within the site or within 50 metres of it was added to the conditions.
The project is backed by £47,486,361 in public funding, including the Future High Streets Fund, Levelling Up Fund Round 3 and £18,386,278 from Homes England’s Brownfield Infrastructure and Land Fund. That funding delivers the shell and core. Capital&Centric will separately fund the residential fit-out, with City College Plymouth funding their campus.