Source: City of Plymouth
Plymouth City Council has approved a £2 million capital programme to carry out urgent and essential repairs across its estate — a major step forward in improving the safety, condition, and long-term sustainability of the city’s public buildings.
The Council’s estate includes more than 240 buildings across 135 sites — from civic offices and libraries to depots, public toilets, and heritage buildings. Many of these are ageing and complex to maintain, with some dating back hundreds of years.
The new Facilities Management (FM) Capital Programme means the Council can get on with urgent repairs more quickly, with a single pot of funding that allows the team to prioritise the most important work and speed up the procurement process. It also helps the Council plan better, buy smarter, and make the most of every pound spent.
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities, said: “This investment is about making sure our buildings are safe, functional, and fit for the future. We know there have been challenges in how we’ve managed our estate, and this is a clear sign of our commitment to doing better — for our staff, our residents, and our city.”
The investment comes at a time when local authorities across the country are facing significant financial pressures. Reduced government funding and rising costs in the construction and maintenance sectors have made it increasingly difficult to keep up with the demands of a large and ageing estate.
Despite these challenges, the Council has already begun delivering a wide-ranging improvement programme in FM. This includes:
• Investment in better systems and data collection and management to support planned maintenance.
• Recruitment plan for a new leadership team, including a permanent Head of FM, Hard FM Operational Manager, Fire Safety Advisor, Building Asset Manager, Contracts Manager
• FM Service Structure that supports the delivery of the service.
• Compliance audit across the estate
The £2 million programme will be overseen by a new FM Governance Board, with clear criteria for prioritising works and ensuring transparency.