Housing plans for former Royal Mail MDEC building on hold

Plans for the continued use of the former Royal Mail Centre as a building for the University of Plymouth have been submitted. Planning permission for a temporary change of use of the former Royal Mail MDEC building to educational purposes was previously granted – but only for a seven year period of time that currently ends on July 16, 2025.

Now though a bid to extend that time limit has been outlined. The University now wishes to use the newly-named Emdeck Building for teaching and educational purposes until September 30, 2027.

The Emdeck building is located a short walking distance from the main University of Plymouth campus and close to InterCity Place, a state of the art teaching facility that houses nursing, midwifery and allied health professions, a statement with the planning application says.

It adds: “The facility provides a valuable resource to the University and its proposed retention (on a temporary basis) would allow the University an appropriate amount of time to find suitable accommodation on the main campus without the need for significant disturbance to teaching and programming.

“The continued temporary use of the Emdeck building for educational purposes is considered to be compliant with Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan which promotes a masterplan led development of the University of Plymouth campus. The continued use of the Emdeck building allows the University an appropriate amount of time to find suitable accommodation on the main campus without the need for significant disturbance to teaching and programming.

“Whilst it is acknowledged that the proposed development would constitute a departure, the extended timescale for current temporary use would not exceed the life of the Plan which is set to run until 2034 – therefore, the long term residential aspiration would not be compromised.”

Plymouth City Council planners will determine the fate of all the new applications listed below at a later date. Below is the full latest list of planning applications that have been submitted this week.

Plymouth planning list

· Confirm use of property as 6-bed HMO (Class C4) - 114 Alexandra Road Ford Plymouth - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SODO4TMMLQK00&activeTab=summary

· Replace existing metal/steel casement and frame windows with uPVC windows - 39 Wolsdon Street Plymouth PL1 5EH - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SOBRYAMMLPE00&activeTab=summary

· Establish existing use of property as a 6-bed HMO (Class C4) with communal facilities - 19 Headland Park Plymouth PL4 8HS - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SOADVUMMLOZ00&activeTab=summary

· Condition Discharge (part): Condition 14 (Surfacing Materials) of application 23/01622/FUL - Brickfields Sports Centre 80 Madden Road Plymouth PL1 4NE - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SOACP4MMLOU00&activeTab=summary

· Use of property as 6 bedroom HMO (C4) with communal facilities - 21 Headland Park Plymouth PL4 8HS =- https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SOA8AYMMLOP00&activeTab=summary

· Single storey extensions to front, rear and side - 43 Chaddlewood Close Plymouth PL7 2HR - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SO9NIQMMLO100&activeTab=summary

· Photovoltaic panels mounted on rear outbuilding flat roof - 113 Mannamead Road Plymouth PL3 5LL - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SOADUQMMLOX00&activeTab=summary

· Proposed erection of rear extension - 30 Dean Hill Plymouth PL9 9AD - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SO4MWZMMLM100&activeTab=summary

· Continued temporary education use (Class F1) until 30th September 2027 - Plymouth Mail Centre 29 Central Park Avenue Plymouth PL1 1AA - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SO7YFUMMLNA00&activeTab=summary

· Proposed hip to gable loft conversion - 30 Dean Hill Plymouth PL9 9AD - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SO4MXOMMLM400&activeTab=summary

· Replacement outbuilding - 1 Torridge Road Plymouth PL7 2DG - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SO0PBSMMLK800&activeTab=summary

· Replacement windows - 17 Butt Park Road Plymouth PL5 3NW - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SO0W7WMMLKF00&activeTab=summary

· Dropped kerb and vehicle crossover - 31 Trevithick Road Plymouth PL5 2AF - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SNZ75CMMLJH00&activeTab=summary

· Erection of bin store - Land At Car Park, Exchange Street Plymouth PL4 0EX - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SNXB2BMMLIA00&activeTab=summary

· Works to piers and gates - The Square Plymouth PL1 3JX - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SNMAZDMMLCQ00&activeTab=summary

· New building-mounted and free-standing signage - Enterprise Rent-A-Car Strode Business Park Plympton Plymouth PL7 4AY - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SN8UJXMML5V00&activeTab=summary

· Certificate of Existing Lawful Use, Section 191, Town and Country Planning Act 1991 for The Change of use of the land from Agricultural, Horticulture/Forestry, to a B8 Storage & Distribution, both in buildings and in open air, the laying of hardstanding, erection of a shed used for B8 Storage & Distribution and the siting and use of a shipping container for B8 Storage & Distribution, installation of rainwater harvesting tank, and cess pit - 215 Plymbridge Road Plymouth PL6 7FT - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SO0PB9MMLK600&activeTab=summary

· Condition Discharge: Condition 22 (Community Use Agreement) of application 23/01622/FUL - Brickfields Sports Centre 80 Madden Road Plymouth PL1 4NE - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SNZ4CCMMLJD00&activeTab=summary

· New single storey side extension with garage door - 28 Meadowfield Place Plymouth PL7 1XQ - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SNUU54MMLGL00&activeTab=summary

· Removal of Condition 15 (Flood Warning And Flood Risk Management) of application 20/00424/S73 - Turnchapel Boatyard, Clovelly View Plymouth PL9 9SY - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SNSZH8MMLFT00&activeTab=summary

· Demolition of existing side store and replacement side extension with garage door - 59 The Knoll Plymouth PL7 4SJ - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SN3264MML3500&activeTab=summary

· Change of use to 7-bed HMO (Sui Generis) - 92 Devonport Road Plymouth PL3 4DF - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SMW6XRMMKZV00&activeTab=summary

· Application to modify the affordable housing clauses in the Section 106 agreement for 03/00110/FUL - Latitude 52, 237 Albert Road Devonport Plymouth PL2 1DJ - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=R8HGEMMM05L00&activeTab=summary

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