College plans for Plymouth tower "exciting"

It's being lined up as a campus for marine courses

Historic England says it is excited that Plymouth’s listed but troubled Civic Centre could be rescued by its original owners in a £1 deal that could see it returned to its former glory.

The redundant but iconic former council building was bought by Manchester-based developers Urban Splash nearly 10 years ago, but restoration projects stalled because of the complexities of the modernist building.

Now Plymouth City Council is proposing to re-purchase the redundant 1960s tower block for the £1 it reportedly sold it for and transform it with government cash before it becomes “a blight to the city centre”.

It is planning to work with Plymouth City College to provide a new campus training students in the marine and environmental sectors on the lower levels of the 14 storey building.

The upper levels will have 144 apartments which already have planning permission.

Development advice team leader for Historic England in the south west Simon Hickman said the disused building “continued to cast a long shadow,” but hope is on the horizon.

“With new uses and fresh occupiers the building could be transformed, once again becoming the focus of the city centre and a source of local pride,” he said.

“Historic England look forward to working with the city council and others to help realise this vision”.

Plymouth City Council’s cabinet will be recommended to approve the freehold purchase of the Civic Centre from Urban Splash at its meeting next Monday.

Cabinet members will also be asked to approve the allocation of £8.5 million of Levelling Up funding to support works to enable City College Plymouth to use lower levels.

Some £10.5 million of funding has already been secured through the Future High Streets Fund to bring the building, once earmarked for demolition, back to life.

The whole project is estimated to cost £51 million and is it hoped it will spur a residential revival of the city centre and bring a new skills centre focused on future ‘blue and green’ industries.

More than 60 courses are planned, which could bring 2,000 new students to the city.

Five thousand new homes are planned to be built in Plymouth over the next five years.

City centre champion and cabinet member for finance Mark Lowry (Lab, Southway) said, love it or hate it, the Civic Centre is a part of the skyline and Plymouth’s history and the council couldn’t see it “left to rot.”

He continued: “This is a very complex, difficult building and nothing would happen there unless we took a proactive approach. It’s got two preservation orders on it and concrete cladding that needs to be replaced.

“It’s not economically viable for the developers to undertake that project.

“We have grants and although we are predicting a shortfall in the funding of £11 million at the moment, there is every chance we will get the rest of the money. I’m not prepared to give that funding to a private company.

“We don’t want to see that building left to rot, it would blight the city centre, so we are bringing it back to life and we will experience its grandeur once again.

“It will become a city centre destination and then we will look at the next regeneration project.”

Cllr Lowry confirmed that the apartments would not be for student accommodation.

A spokesperson for Urban Splash said: “We have worked extremely closely with Plymouth City Council to get this challenging project going. When the opportunity of further funding and the college came about we agreed that, in the spirit of partnership, to transfer the building back so that the funding can be secured and the jobs created.”

Chief executive of City College Plymouth Jackie Grubb said: “City College Plymouth is excited about the possibility of being able to use this iconic building once the renovation works are completed.

“Such a central location is both accessible and also inspirational for students and staff. We look forward to seeing the Civic Centre reclaiming its rightful place as a thriving hub at the heart of the city.”

Reacting to the news one local resident on Facebook said: “Personally I reckon it’s a shame it can’t be demolished, it is a complete eyesore! But as it can’t, then this is as good an idea as any, and will at least benefit people and bring jobs to the city.”