Plans to transform two waterfronts in Plymouth move forward

A Government planning inspector has given the signal for the transformation of the two waterfront neighbourhoods to go ahead in full. The planning inspector declared the Area Action Plans for Devonport and Millbay/Stonehouse ‘sound’. He described the waterfront as one of the city’s greatest assets and said the the plans provide ‘good implementation frameworks to allow the city to achieve its vision.’

The Council has formally adopted the Area Action Plans, which will now steer a course for development in these neighbourhoods.  

Some of the key ideas within the Area Action Plan for Devonport are already beginning to happen. Ideas include:

• A major new community centre at South Yard Storage Enclave with new shops, community uses, housing and a primary school
• A mixed-use development at MoD Mount Wise with public access and protection of the historic environment
• A ‘green arc’ of landscape and recreational links through Devonport Park, Brickfields and MoD Mount Wise to join the waterfront at Mutton Cove

Developments at Devonport are already creating a national buzz. The Cannon Street and Cornwall Street redevelopment featured on the title page of the Government’s green paper ‘homes for the future, more affordable, more sustainable, more affordable’, which was published last week.

A similar bright future is outlined in the Millbay/Stonehouse Area Action Plan. Ideas include:

• New office and residential quarters and a new community centre focused on a new boulevard link between the City Centre and Docks
• Major mixed use redevelopment of Millbay Eastern Dock, with public access along the waterfront
• A new international cruise liner terminal at Trinity Pier

Like Devonport, the area is already changing daily. The subject of the biggest planning application since the end of the second world war, it is destined to turn dock hinterland to a desirable waterfront community building on the already thriving inner city neighbourhood of Stonehouse.

Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Economic Growth, Councillor Ted Fry said: “These plans unlock an enormous amount of potential in this city and we are all extremely enthusiastic about the direction they are taking in these key neighbourhoods.

‘Throughout the Local Development Framework process, the Council has listened to the people who already live in these areas as well as think about what their future neighbours will need and aspire to.

‘The right mix has been backed up by the inspector’s findings. It took just 20 minutes for the examination in public for the Devonport Area Action Plan as there was such a consensus on which direction the area should take.’