City tower blocks - no decision until next year

PLYMOUTH’S proposed 10,000-home city centre ‘new town’ is likely to contain social housing and is expected to mean a development corporation being set up to deliver it.

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

Up to 30 tower blocks are expected to be built as part of a council plan to bring 10,000 new homes into the city centre, alongside current towers such as Beckley Point, shown here

(WILLIAM TELFORD)

But the final decision on the scheme, which could mean construction of 30 tower blocks, will not be made until next year.

If Plymouth does get the nod, it will mean land could be bought up under compulsory purchase powers. And there could be Government funding and even tax deals to help get it built.

The details are included in the Government's initial response to the report from the New Town's Taskforce which has recommended 12 new towns be built in the UK. This includes a “densified” development in Plymouth, “evolving Britain's Ocean City” and capitalising on the Government's £4.4bn investment in Devonport Naval Base.

Plymouth City Council has already published a “vision” for the city centre and The Herald has revealed architects have been looking at the potential for siting up to 30 “high residential towers” in the city centre.

The Government, in its response to the taskforce, said it believes the delivery of large-scale, well-designed places is essential to tackling the UK housing crisis, and for delivering economic growth.

It said it “warmly welcomes” all 12 of the locations recommended, including in Plymouth, and said: “Prima facie, each has the clear potential to deliver on the Government’s objectives.”