Civic Centre to become high end hotel providing huge job boost for city

Plymouth’s iconic Civic Centre is to be transformed into a four star hotel with commanding views of the city and its stunning waterfront as part of an exciting development that will create hundreds of jobs.

Tired offices will be turned into a prestige hotel which will form the anchor development in a project that will seal the West End of Plymouth’s role as a cultural quarter of the city.

Plans are today being unveiled that will see office space turned into a 160-bedroom hotel, with a roof-top restaurant, gymnasium, new restaurants along Royal Parade and overlooking the newly-created square and at the rear of the building, a new arts centre. There will also be luxury residential apartments and various food and beverage offerings.

It is estimated the redevelopment could create 450 construction jobs as well as a further 360 permanent jobs in the leisure and tourism, food and drinks and cultural aspects of the scheme.

Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Mark Lowry said: “We’re really excited as this is a new chapter for this landmark building. For a number of years the city has faced the question of what to do with the Civic. We could not wish for a better answer. It’s an outstanding prospect that reflects everything we are trying to achieve.

“It will create hundreds of construction jobs, 360 permanent jobs as well as a new arts centre which will be more accessible, easy to find and better serve the people of Plymouth.”

Cabinet will meet on September 3 to discuss the recommendation to award the contract to redevelop the 15-story landmark tower to preferred bidder Resurgam (West End)Ltd. The company is currently finalising negotiations with a major hotel chain.

A procurement process started last October after the Civic Centre was marketed as a development opportunity. An initial four bids were whittled down to two by February before a competitive dialogue concluded with the remaining bidders.

All the bids were assessed against criteria including whether or not the proposals would involve the Council as a tenant, how the proposal would create jobs and contribute to city life as well as legal and financial packages. Environmental considerations and the prospect of obtaining a successful planning consent were also key considerations.

The Cabinet paper also outlines the direction for arrangements to empty the Civic of Council staff. After looking in detail at various options, the Council is expected to lease a number of properties on a medium-term basis, but will keep a city centre front office. Because of commercial negotiations it is not yet in a position to say where.

Council leader Tudor Evans added: “It’s fantastic to get this far and to see a really brilliant project that will utterly change both the city centre and the city as a destination and create hundreds of jobs.

“There’s no doubt there’s a huge amount of work to do – not just for the developer, who will have to go through the formal planning process – but for our staff who will be moving.

“But it’s exciting, it’s a challenge. The way we serve the people of Plymouth is changing all the time and questions about where we work will allow us to shape how we work.”