Major step for new Plymouth M&S and Aldi shopping centre taken

Plymouth City Council has taken control of the new district centre at Derriford which has been handed over from the developers.

Shoppers have been waiting with excitement for the new stores to open their doors, with Aldi’s now open and the count down on for the new Marks & Spencer Foodhall to open next month. Ahead of that, the Council has formally taken ownership of the first three units of the site, which was developed by ADC Kimberley on behalf of the Council.

Leader of Plymouth City Council, Cllr Tudor Evans said: “This is a massive deal for the north of the city and for the Council. “We’ve been keen to see more facilities for people in the north of the city for a long time. This ambition has been part of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan to make this happen in a measured and thoughtful way.

“Not only is this good news for people living nearby, but it is great news for the 100 or so people who will be employed here and the centre will bring a longer-term rental income into the Council."

Other businesses taking space in the centre are also well on the way to completion. Tenants include a Marks & Spencer Foodhall, a Costa Coffee, PureGym, and an Oggy Oggy pasty shop.

There are 12 electric vehicle charging points installed by Gridserve and sustainable transport links to and from the centre are being created to help reduce car use, with cycle lanes and easy pedestrian access to bus stops.

Cllr Evans added: “As with all exciting, shiny new shops opening, we expect to see a rush of interest with people checking out what’s on offer. We know it could be busy in and around this new centre when it first opens, so are asking people who would automatically come up Tavistock Road, to consider getting off the A38 a junction earlier and heading up the Forder Valley link road. There’s a choice now!”

Jonathan Banham of ADC Kimberley said: “This is a project that will provide much needed new facilities for the growing population in the north of Plymouth,”

“As well as bringing essential new facilities to the people who live and work in this area, the project has given a significant boost to the construction industry locally and regenerated a brownfield site that had sat unused for over quarter of a century.

The district centre builds on previous investments at Derriford made by Plymouth City Council which has resulted in the Range Head Office being built, new housing and NHS facilities popping up on Council owned land, including the new Royal Eye Infirmary on William Prance Road. It is near some of Plymouth’s biggest employers, including Derriford Hospital and the Land Registry.

Timeline

• 2009 – Plans for a district centre at Derriford unveiled as part of Local Development Framework. People invited to give their views
• 2019 – The new district centre for Derriford has been a strategic city objective and Seaton Barracks was designated as the preferred site for the district centre in the Joint Local Plan, which was adopted in March
• 2019 – ADC Kimberley Ltd, selected as the Council’s preferred developer following a competitive bidding process
• 2021 – big-name brands secured Marks and Spencer (M&S) for a new foodhall, supermarket Aldi and Costa, which will operate a café and drive through. Other features proposed a gym, pet shop, a further, smaller retail unit and 12 rapid EV charging points.
• 2022 – planning application for a new district centre on former Seaton Barracks Parade Ground site approved
• 2023 – Following renegotiations with occupiers which led to increased rental income, the Council agrees £1 million investment deal to close a funding gap as project has hit by rising construction costs.
• June 2023 – work starts
• October 2024 –Aldi opens for trade