Plymouth City Council is launching one of the most extensive consultation programmes undertaken by the authority in recent years, inviting residents, businesses and stakeholders to help shape a long-term vision for the future of the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods.
The six-week public consultation, launching on 26 October, focuses on the draft Plymouth City Living Framework and Masterplan, a blueprint for how the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods could evolve over the next 20 to 30 years.
Developed in partnership with WSP and award-winning master planners from Howells and Mae, the draft Framework sets out an ambitious vision to create the best urban community on the coast.
The draft has been shaped by one of the city’s largest engagement programmes of its kind, with more than 1,500 people so far contributing their ideas through workshops, library events, community pop-ups, online activities, stakeholder sessions and public conversations.
Plymouth City Council and WSP have combined this feedback with technical analysis and placemaking expertise to create a vision that reflects the aspirations of the people who live, work and spend time in Plymouth. For example, the need for greener and safer public spaces, better walking and cycling connections, more affordable and inclusive homes, stronger cultural activity, good jobs, improved public transport and a plan that reflects Plymouth’s unique identity.
The draft Framework responds to those priorities through ideas for homes, jobs, public spaces, transport, culture, infrastructure and community facilities across a number of opportunity areas, including the City Core, Railway Station, Union Street, Exeter Street, Millbay, Richmond Walk and Sutton Harbour and Cattedown.
The consultation is not about a finalised plan. The draft Framework and Masterplan is a long-term vision and planning framework for the future of the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods. It is not a planning application, does not allocate planning permission and does not approve any specific development proposals. Any future development proposals would still be subject to their own planning processes, including consultation where required.
To make it as easy as possible for people to get involved, the programme will include a city centre consultation hub, a travelling exhibition bus visiting 20 communities right across Plymouth, an online consultation event and a dedicated online consultation website where people can find out more and have their say.
From 26 October until 7 December, people will be able to:
Read the draft Framework and Masterplan and give their views online.
Visit a dedicated city centre consultation-hub (former Cash Converters shop, 101-103 New George Street in the West End) open on set days throughout the consultation period (see the website)
Speak to project representatives at a travelling exhibition bus which will visit every ward in Plymouth, from Stoke and Devonport to Plympton, Plymstock, Southway, Honicknowle, Efford, Mutley and beyond.
Attend a live online consultation event via Zoom on Thursday 26 November from 7pm to 8pm.
To see the dates and times for the consultation hub, the dates of the pop-up bus tour, or to register for the online event, please go to the website from noon on 26 October.
Steve Hughes, chief executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, said:
“This is an exciting opportunity for us and our businesses to have a say in the future development of the city centre.
“The transformation of Armada Way has been a huge success and has led to a huge influx of further investment which will be good news for all our businesses.
“Now, we have the opportunity for more city living, new uses for empty units and increased footfall from the conversion of the former House of Fraser building into an iconic office HQ for Babcock Engineering and the development of the Civic Centre as a City College Plymouth skills hub with more than 140 apartments on the upper floors.
“Now we need business input to help make the most of these opportunities and decide the future look and feel of our city centre.”
Councillor Matt Smith, Cabinet Member for City Centre Regeneration, Housing and Events, said:
“Earlier this year, we asked people what they wanted to see for the future of Plymouth city centre and the response was fantastic. More than 1,500 people took the time to share their views, ideas and aspirations.
“We’ve listened carefully and those conversations have helped shape the draft City Living Framework and Masterplan that we’re launching for consultation today.
“This is one of the most significant conversations our city has had about its future in recent years. The vision set out in these documents is about much more than new buildings. It’s about how people live, work, learn, socialise and spend their time in Plymouth for decades to come.
“The city centre belongs to everyone and the decisions we make now will touch the lives of residents across every part of Plymouth. That’s why it is so important that everyone has the opportunity to have their say.
“We are delivering one of the largest and most extensive consultations the Council has undertaken, taking the conversation into every ward across the city. We don’t want people to feel they have to come to us, so we’re going to them, through our pop-up consultation hub, travelling exhibition bus, community events, online engagement and dedicated sessions with stakeholders and community groups.
“Whether you live in the city centre, visit occasionally, run a business, study here, work here, or simply care about Plymouth’s future, your views matter. We want people to see how their feedback has already influenced the emerging vision, but we also want them to tell us whether we’ve got it right and what needs to happen next.
“I would encourage everyone to get involved, take a look at the proposals and help shape the future of our city centre. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to influence a vision that will benefit Plymouth for years to come.”
Helen Bone, Regional Head-South West for Homes England, added:
“The City Living Framework provides a blueprint for the regeneration of Plymouth’s City Centre and a plan for delivering up to 10,000 homes to support defence-driven growth and support Plymouth’s ambitions now and into the future.
“As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England is investing in key development sites, and along with Plymouth City Council is encouraging residents, community groups, local SMEs, as well as national developers and investors to buy into this vision, to make it their own and see a future for Plymouth that they can all be proud of.”
The consultation is will launch online from noon on Monday 26 October and will run until 11:59 pm on Monday 7 December.