Plymouth City Council has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction to deliver the £6.49m Phase 1 works package for the Civic Centre regeneration project in the heart of Plymouth city centre.
The Grade II listed building, which formerly served as council offices, comprises a 14-storey tower above a two-storey podium and a basement. The building was vacated in 2015 following a period of deterioration and has lain empty ever since.
The project includes the restoration of the centre, the refurbishment of the reflection pool alongside extensive hard and soft landscaping works and the repurposing of the tower to deliver 144 new homes.
Following completion of the restoration works, Plymouth City Council will enter into a 125-year lease with City College Plymouth, which will occupy the lower floors and basement as a new Blue Green Skills Hub.
Graham Kingdon, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the South West, said: “This is a complex and highly significant project for Plymouth. The Civic Centre building is instantly recognisable and has stood empty for far too long, so being trusted by Plymouth City Council to bring it back to life is something we’re incredibly proud of. Through close collaboration and careful planning, our aim is to preserve the building’s unique character while creating spaces that serve the city for generations to come.”
Matt Smith, cabinet member for housing, city centre regeneration and events at Plymouth City Council, added: “There’s a real sense of momentum building around the Civic. Planning and listed building consent have now been granted. Two phases which were vital to ensuring the building is safe to work in have been completed. Now the council, working with Capital&Centric and City College Plymouth, have a contractor lined up for the next phase – Morgan Sindall – who have shown they are more than capable of tackling difficult projects in Plymouth. It’s all systems go.”
