City plans for Millbay and lido denied funding

PLANS to expand Millbay docks into a freight port and upgrade facilities at Tinside Pool are in severe jeopardy after Plymouth's £20 million levelling up bid was rejected by the Government.

- WILLIAM TELFORD

Plymouth City Council had submitted an ambitious proposal centred on its new freeport status, which also included building an innovation centre at Devonport, to create more than 200 jobs, but it learned on Wednesday that it has not been included in 100 projects sharing a £2 billion bonanza.

Richard Bingley, Tory leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "To not secure funding at this point from the Government's Levelling Up fund is disappointing." He said the authority would look for funding elsewhere.

In August 2022, the council pitched for £19,946,417 of investment under the Government's Levelling Up fund to unlock a £43.5 million package of transformational infrastructure projects. Three projects were put forward to make the most of the area's new freeport status.

They included plans to revamp areas of the waterfront, repurposing derelict buildings and upgrading Tinside pool to ensure the 1930s lido can "continue to operate safely and improve the visitor experience"! Improvements to Tinside Cove buildings to the east of the pool were part of the pitch, with more facilities as toilets, showers, lockers and a café within the unused buildings to attract more visitors.

It was also hoped unused parts of the pool complex could be transformed into a learning area with a Maritime Digital Hub to inspire the next generation of marine engineers. National Marine Park engagement programmes could also use the refurbished space for education and ocean conservation initiatives.