Morgan Sindall Construction this month handed over the revamped £29.89m Armada Way to Plymouth City Council, billed as one of the most significant public realm projects the city has seen.
It regenerated a civic boulevard in the city centre conceived in the renowned 1943 Abercrombie and Watson Plan for Plymouth, expressing confidence in the city’s future following the devastation of the Plymouth Blitz in the second world war.
But by the 2020s it had fallen into decline, with ageing infrastructure, reduced footfall and underused public spaces.
The scheme was procured through the Scape construction framework. Morgan Sindall was appointed in 2022 to deliver works in four areas of the city centre, including Armada Way, to restore the scale and ambition of the original vision, updated for modern needs.
Greener, safer, more accessible
The goal was to make Armada Way a greener, safer and more accessible destination to support city centre living.
It features 176 new trees comprising a mix of UK native and ornamental species selected for their resilience to disease and climate change.
Bug hotels, bird boxes, reed beds and wildflower planting have been introduced to encourage pollinators.
The contractor built a sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS), partially powered by solar canopies, at Place de Brest, which can divert up to 77% of surface water away from the existing combined sewer network.
Armada Way now has a 1,120 sq m play village nearly the size of five tournament tennis courts.
Around 500 seating spaces have been installed, along with flexible event spaces at the amphitheatre, Place de Brest and near the Sundial. Each event space has power and water connections to support markets, performances and community activities.
There is a new 2.5m-wide route that encourages cycling, while upgraded lighting, enhanced CCTV coverage and improved sightlines are designed to create a safer and more welcoming environment.
“Handing Armada Way back to the people of Plymouth marks an important milestone for everyone involved in the project,” said Graham Kingdon, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction South West.
‘Huge collective effort’
“Delivering a scheme of this scale and complexity in the heart of a busy city centre has required a huge collective effort, and the finished result reflects the commitment, expertise and collaboration shown by our team, supply chain partners and the council throughout.
“Working closely with Plymouth City Council, we’ve helped transform Armada Way into a place where people can spend time, connect with their surroundings, and enjoy the city in a safe and welcoming environment.”
Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet Member responsible for Armada Way, said: “This has been an extremely important and high-profile project which has been closely scrutinised by many.
“But just take a look at what is now there. It is an astonishing transformation and has completely lifted the city centre. We have created places to play, places to sit and places for bands and events – not to mention the 25,000 plants to enjoy.
“The location has been a hive of activity, and I would like to thank all the workers who have been operating in a very public place, in a constrained environment and to tight time scales – they have done a great job.”
