A DERELICT building in a city centre is being given some much-needed love and attention – with plans to turn it into 140 new homes.
An ambitious architect is set to transform the landmark structure and add a retro vibe.
Plymouth’s Civic Centre on Armada Way is set for a huge redevelopment[/caption]
The building has been Grade II listed since 2007 and now it’s time for a £20m makeover.
The former Civic Centre in Plymouth is due to be turned into a thriving residential area boasting urban loft-style living.
The 14-storey property has seen no life in it since council staff left the premises in 2015.
There are big plans for the iconic building, which was first opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1962.
Plymouth City Council – who previously bought the site back from developers in 2024 for £1 – is ploughing in £20m from Homes England to start work on the redevelopment.
Building Design Partnership (BDP) have started on plans to resurrect the building, where Plymouth City College will set up a campus on the bottom two floors.
Mark Braund, architect director at BDP, said: “It’s an amazing urban loft-style living with exposed surfaces.
“That’s our ambition that we’d like to achieve with this building – a really unique product for Plymouth.
“There are amazing views out over the city and we want to capitalise on all of that 1960s vibe this building has – we just need to bring it back out.”
BDP who are behind projects including the University of Plymouth’s Roland Levinsky building and 2013’s Theatre Royal regeneration project.
Plymouth City Council’s Mark Lowry, added: “I think we can give people some confidence. We’ve got a very ambitious programme to bring this building back to life.
“We’ve now got the right architect in place, we’ve got City College on the ground floors of this building and we’re bringing it forward for residential opportunities in the coming years.”
It’s thought it will take between five to six years to complete the project.
It comes after Plymouth’s Tinside Lido was named one of the best in Europe.
The website boasts you can ‘dive into the iconic 1935 art-deco outdoor saltwater pool, set against the stunning backdrop of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
Locals may want to add the summer solstice event on June 21 to their diaries.
This will open at 4:30am for swimmers who want to watch the sunrise in spectacular style.
The lido first opened in 1935 and is celebrating its 90th birthday this year.
Plans are underway for a ‘very ambitious programme’ to bring the building back to life[/caption]
