The creation of a multi-million pound conference centre and linked events venue at the Civic Centre and Guildhall in Plymouth city centre has moved a step closer.
The city council’s Cabinet has for the scheme and to accept more than £12million Government funding.
The two projects, along with a separate £3million upgrade of the Civic Square situated between the two buildings, will help regenerate the city centre and support the post-Covid economic recovery.
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Councillors were told the contractors were likely to be appointed in the summer of 2022. The current timetable predicts the Guildhall being completed by autumn 2023 and the Civic Centre scheme finished in the summer of 2024.
Plans for the former Civic Centre include for up to 800 delegates and a Creative Hub for the University of Plymouth.
Proposals for the historic Guildhall on the other side of the Civic Square include improvements to create a modern multi-purpose events venue. The £4million project would include internal alterations and improvements to catering, IT, sound and lighting for the listed building.
Manchester-headquartered developer Urban Splash is planning to create 144 homes by converting the 14-floor tower block at the Civic Centre.
The scheme was given planning permission in January 2020, four years after the developer bought the empty listed former council HQ building for a token £1.
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A report to the city council’s Cabinet said the venues would work together to provide “a new physical and virtual conferencing and events hub of international significance that will connect the city globally”.
The report said the developments would create the equivalent of 317 full-time jobs and 280 in construction, attract more than 46,000 new visitors and provide an economic boost of £5.2million.
The grant offer from the Government was two-thirds of the original £17.5million bid to the Future High Streets Fund, so the scheme has been revised to match the level. The final allocation is expected to be confirmed by the end of March.
The Cabinet agreed to switch £2.45million of council funding from public realm work at the Civic Centre to support the project at the Guildhall, as the Future High Streets grant will cover the public realm element.
The Labour councillors approved allocating resources to the council’s capital programme and delegating authority for contracts to the council’s strategic director of place Anthony Payne.
A report to the meeting said changes to the project to align with the funding could be made “without compromising the quality of the scheme or the impact that it will have in delivering change and driving footfall across the wider city centre.”
Councillors were told the likely timetable is:
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May 2022: Appointment of contractor to complete the Civic Centre project;
August 2022: Appointment of contractor to complete the Guildhall project;
September 2023: Practical completion of the Guildhall project;
July 2024: Practical completion of the Civic Centre project.
The city council will be responsible for the delivery of the improvements to the Guildhall, including the appointment of a consultant team and a main contractor, and Urban Splash will deliver the Civic Centre project.
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Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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The projects are part of an estimated £385million worth of investment planned in the city centre, predicted to support 5,000 construction jobs and result in 1,000 permanent new jobs.
Permission has been given for a standalone energy centre at the Guildhall, to provide a new environmentally-friendly heating system as part of the improvements. The high temperature air source heat pump would be connected to a network also serving the former Civic Centre and the council-owned Midland House.
Pre-application discussions have taken place over plans for the conference centre scheme at the Civic Centre, which are expected to be followed by a full planning application.
The £3million upgrade for the listed Civic Square is also at the pre-application stage, with discussions taking place. Plans are being drawn for the public area to include an upgraded coffee kiosk pavilion, new tree planting and landscaping work, with an improved drainage system.
The square on Armada Way was built between 1957 and 1962, designed by Geoffrey Jellicoe. It was established as part of the civic layout of Plymouth planned in 1956 by the city architect HJW Stirling and based on Patrick Abercrombie and J Paton Watson’s post-war plan for Plymouth of 1943.
The regeneration schemes support the city council’s Resurgam programme, a public and private sector partnership to stimulate post-Covid recovery following the severe economic impact of the pandemic.