Next phase of city centre redevelopment to start from 4th April 2022

No to traffic but yes please to shoppers – that’s the message from city centre traders as the second phase of the Old Town Street and New George Street improvement scheme gets underway.

From Monday April 4, the pedestrian precinct will close to traffic.

There will be a barrier at the entrance to Old Town Street and special arrangements for deliveries are being made with businesses.

City Centre Manager Steve Hughes said: “Our shops are very much open for business and keen to see customers. Business is bouncing back and we’ve seen more and more people come into the city centre. It’s good to see and we would love to see more!”

Council Leader Nick Kelly added: “We are doing all we can to minimise disruption but this is where we are asking people to bear with us. Plymouth’s city centre is about to undergo some significant and exciting improvements to make it a better and more vibrant place to live, work or visit.

“The tired eighties landscaping will be replaced by a more environmentally friendly public realm that will include features designed to make the area look brighter and feel fresher including a new play area.”

Other features include new islands of greenery, places to sit and rest, a small performance area, new tree planting and ornamental ‘rain garden’ planting with more sustainable urban drainage.

Contractors Mildren Construction have written to all the businesses so that they can organise delivery schedules. Access will be controlled by a manned gate at the top of Old Town Street, with deliveries allowed between 5pm and 7am.

Collections

To keep the public safe and accommodate fast food collections as much as possible, there will some parking for motorbikes and bicycles delivery riders in a designated parking area at the entrance to Old Town Street. They will have to walk from this location to collect their deliveries.

Delivery car drivers will have to use car parks at Whimple Street or the Guildhall.

The Council has been in touch with fast food businesses about delivery drivers breaking parking restrictions which became an issue during and after lockdown.

Private car owners were also breaking the restrictions in a location that had always been for access only. Drivers were never allowed to stop in the precinct, even just to load or unload.

Once complete the new scheme will be strictly pedestrian and cyclist only.

Taxis

There are two new taxi ranks which were created ahead of these works in

• Cornwall Street/ Eastlake Street to the north of Drake Circus and
• Wimple Street, south of St Andrew’s Cross.

Shops and businesses will operate as normal throughout and pedestrian access will be maintained while work is in progress.

The working areas will be fenced off to separate operations from the shopper’s corridors which will be retained on either side.

There will be extra signs to help people to navigate the area. As work progresses, crossing points will be designed across the works areas.