Plymouth to become a 'European destination'

FRESH VISION FOR THE CITY CENTRE IDENTIFIES 'PRIORITY' UPGRADE SITES

- WILLIAM TELFORD

PLYMOUTH'S railway station could be set for a £100m transformation with new commercial and residential buildings in the next decade under a fresh "vision" for the city centre. The station is one of several "priority" sites identified for regeneration as part of a new Plymouth City Centre Vision.

In addition to the transformation of the Civic Centre into 144 flats above a college campus, the vision highlights key projects in Mayflower Street, Armada Way, and around Colin Campbell Court. The Vision document mentions the council "acquiring" and knocking down buildings as part of a plan to create 10,000 new homes in the city centre.

It sets out steps in the next five and 10 years, with a new look city centre in place by 2040. The aim is to make Plymouth an "important European destination".

The document reveals sites for "potential development" in the next five years. These include Bath Street West, Colin Campbell Court, Mayflower House and the Congress Hall, the site of the former Good Companions pub, Tavistock Place, where two "eyesore" buildings have just been demolished, and the Debenhams building in Royal Parade, in addition to the Civic Centre. The report states that land values are at their lowest in the city centre. It said an investment "masterplan" includes "seeking private sector investment/developer partners", "early delivery of priority projects to give confidence to the investor market" and "a commitment and focus by the public sector partners and key stakeholders to the delivery of this Vision."