Work will start imminently on the much-anticipated Derriford District Centre following an investment deal to close a funding gap.
Council leader Tudor Evans has this week signed a decision worth just over £1 million which will unblock the project which has been hit by rising construction costs.
Big-name brands have already been secured – Marks and Spencer (M&S) who plan to build a new Foodhall – which will be twice the size of the current store on the other side of Tavistock Road. Supermarket Aldi and Costa Coffee café have also signed up and there’s plans for a gym operated by PureGym and a Pets Corner pet shop.
There will also be 12 electric vehicle charging points and a bus, cycle and walking route connecting William Prance Road with Derriford Hospital via Derriford Business Park.
The land is being developed by ADC Kimberley who were selected by the Council following a competitive tender process in 2019. The developers are working with locally-based builders, Devon Contractors Ltd. Construction work is due to take around 16 months with the shops and leisure facilities expected to be open from autumn 2024.
The project is being forward funded by the Council to the tune of £18.9 million.
Council leader Tudor Evans OBE said: “This administration is all about getting things done and attracting new investment into the city. We have quickly reviewed a number stalled projects and this decision will be the first of many to get the city’s investment pipeline flowing again.
“Through our Property Regeneration Fund, we can get projects moving quicker. This deal will not only pay off by improving facilities for residents in the north of the city, but will also bring us a longer term rental income into the Council. This is a good deal for Plymouth and its residents.”
The completed development is expected to create 102 full time jobs and safeguard a further 57 jobs. It is also estimated that 120 construction jobs will be generated during the development phase. The consultant team also includes a number of local firms based in Plymouth.
The district centre builds on previous investments at Derriford made by the Council which has resulted in the Range Head Office being built, new housing and NHS facilities being built on land owned by the Council. Building work is also currently underway on a brand-new Royal Eye Infirmary on William Prance Road.
The land at the former Seaton Barracks site is one of the last undeveloped plots within the Plymouth International Medical & Technology Park. The new district centre for Derriford has been a strategic objective for the Council, designated as the preferred site for the district centre in the Joint Local Plan, which was adopted in March 2019. The decision recommends the leader of the Council approves the business case and allocates an additional £1,036,196 for the project into the capital programme funded by service borrowing.