'Let's make city finest retail spot in the SW'

PLYMOUTH’S ambitions to be the finest retail centre in the South West will start with the regeneration of Armada Way, city council leader Tudor Evans has proclaimed.

- ALISON STEPHENSON

Cabinet members gave full support for the final city centre gateway project, expected to cost in the region of £37 million and which has been subject to one of the biggest public consultations Plymouth has ever seen.

“We want it to be glorious and inspiring and something that excites people,” said Cllr Evans (Lab, Ham). “It’s been a very long road to get here and now it’s time to do.

“Today we are plotting the course to be the finest city centre in the southwest peninsula.”

Cabinet member for finance Mark Lowry (Lab, Southway) called it “a do or die” moment. “If we don’t do this, the investment and jobs won’t happen, our city centre will struggle and it’s already struggling more than many others commercial centres.”

He said the message from the public and businesses was just to “get on with it” but the work would be done in phases to cause the “minimum disruption” to trade.