Source: City of Plymouth
The first section of the Armada Way regeneration scheme will open on Thursday 31 July heralding a major milestone on this transformative project.
Plymouth City Council is working with the City Centre Company on plans to open up zone 1A around the Phoenix Fountain together with the new amphitheatre and performance space, which will become home to happenings and pop up events such as bands playing or live performances.
Paving in this part of the scheme is complete and this week, granite seats for the amphitheatre arrive. So far 29 trees have been planted, the first of 400 specimens of plants are going into the ground and two beds of wildflower turf are already bursting with blooms to attract bees and other pollinators.
Existing stonework – including two heraldic lions – have been given a thorough facewash ahead of the big day.
City Centre Champion Councillor Mark Lowry said: “We are cracking on with the job and like many people, I’ve been blown away by the change that is happening on a daily basis.
“We are investing millions in a project that is changing the face of the city centre and has already led to companies and organisations directly investing here as they like what they see.
“That said, we appreciate it has not been easy for the businesses and would like to thank them for their continued understanding and patience.”
The project team and contractors have done everything in their power to minimise disruption to businesses. Temporary bridges have been built across paving work to the entrances of premises to make sure that the public can get in and out of the shops and banks.
Noisy and disruptive work has been taking place in the evenings to ensure minimal impact to businesses and our contractor dowses dusty areas of work wherever possible.
Businesses are also sent a weekly update letting them know what work is coming. There is a business liaison officer retailers can contact if they have any specific concerns they have about how the project is progressing.
New areas featuring high quality granite footways have already been reopened along the western footpath north of Cornwall Street and are on a rolling programme over the next few weeks.
Repaving paths has been complicated by the fact that much of the utilities – such as broadband and electricity cables – were not installed as deeply as they should have been and some unrecorded services are just below the existing surfacing.
Contractors have had the added headache of relaying paths without causing power cuts or system failures for shops.
Councillor Lowry added: “It’s been a challenge but the contractors and the project team have risen to it. Work is still powering on in other zones, but we wanted to pause for a moment and mark this achievement.
City Centre Company Chief Executive Steve Hughes added: “We have been impressed with the pace and progress of the work and have been delighted with the level of interest it has created in the city centre.
“We know it has not always been easy for the businesses during the work but Old Town Street and New George Street saw a big increase in footfall and investment interest once that scheme had finished and I am confident this will happen here. It is going to be a game changer.”