Plymouth to get almost ?20 million for waterfront and port

Plymouth’s waterfront and port look set to benefit from almost £20 million as part of the Government’s Levelling Up fund.

The Council has today learnt that its ambition to regenerate the city by accelerating the Freeport, National Marine Park and Net Zero vision have all moved a step further forward through this award of funding to the tune of £19,946, 417.

Council Leader Tudor Evans: “Absolutely brilliant news. That’s nearly £20 million worth of investment into Plymouth.

“We keep pressing the case for investment in projects that we believe have the potential to make a huge difference to our economy and to the people who live here – and it’s paying off.

“We have an extraordinary waterfront. We have some exciting ideas to help people in Plymouth prosper and want to create opportunities for young people to learn skills that will see them with great jobs in the blue economy. The projects we have put forward will help make this happen.”

The funding has been allocated on the basis of three key projects which were put forward to drive change by making the most of the opportunities made available through the area’s Freeport status as well as help create a city where everyone can reach their potential.

The projects intend to deliver innovation, infrastructure and skills across the city through:

• Marine innovation – through the delivery of innovation barns which allow practical innovation space for marine businesses helping research and development of products. Earmarked for Oceansgate, already a hotbed of innovation in the recently-designated Freeport tax site at South Yard, this will leverage opportunities to grow the sector by providing a focal point for technological advances in the marine and defence arena.
• Modernisation of port infrastructure at Millbay – upgrading port infrastructure to increase freight through the ferryport. This includes a move towards shore power, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels for shipping. Some key improvements are already in the pipeline, this will further encourage and support sustainable business growth, high value jobs and international trade.
• Transformed waterfront – repurposing derelict buildings to engage, inspire and train our future workforce. Raising aspirations to enable access for all to high value jobs and providing an attractive place to invest, work and play. The Council will be working with colleagues from the National Marine Park on raising the aspirations of young people to enter into marine employment.

The schemes will have to be delivered by 2026.