Work starts on major building schemes across Plymouth

CREATIVITY is driving confidence in Plymouth's construction industry and helping to haul the city out of recession, say planning chiefs.

With work getting under way on a number of ambitious projects in the city, planners and developers agree the future is looking bright.

Builders are currently moving into Central Park, where the first turf has just been cut for the £46.5million Life Centre, while contractors have also begun work on an £89million, 31-storey tower for Derry's Cross that will transform the city's skyline.

Housing projects – which have been hit hard by the economic downturn – are also gathering pace again, thanks in part to council and Government schemes designed to kick-start those which had ground to a halt.

Now city planning chiefs say the 'invitation to aspire' sent out by architect David Mackay in his Vision for Plymouth is finally being answered, despite the testing economy.

"The credit should go to the developers, who are making brave decisions in what is still a fragile market," said Paul Barnard, Plymouth City Council's assistant director of development for planning services.

"I don't think we can be complacent, but their confidence is improving and they're confident the economy is beginning to turn.

"There are always 10 reasons why you can't do something, but we've got to get that can-do attitude – and I think Plymouth is showing all the signs that it's ready to do that.

"Maybe the recession has driven that. Suddenly people start thinking in much more creative ways, and maybe that's what happened."

Development giant George Wimpey's regional managing director Colin Palmer agreed.

"Sales at our Plymouth developments have been steady, but of course the economy has had an impact," he said.

"I certainly feel there's a little more confidence in the air now, and there are some exciting opportunities for the future."

Government initiatives such as its Kickstart programme, designed to provide cash to sites where work has stalled, and Homebuy Direct, which helps first-time buyers get on to the property ladder, have had a clear impact: and the council introduced its Market Recovery Action Plan at the end of 2008, relieving the developer of some planning obligations and therefore speeding up work.

Mr Barnard said this 'innovative response' had already provided a £1.4million boost to the local economy, and helped the council smash its target of building 1,000 homes last year.

"There's a careful balancing act," he added, "but we think we've struck the balance quite well.

"The fundamentals haven't changed, but now Plymouth is delivering what it said it would deliver. The delivery is challenging and the economy is fragile but there are a lot of sites out there where work is now going ahead. The long-term game-plan is already in place; it's just the final bits of the jigsaw. What developers can see is Plymouth is open for business."

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