Proposals for Plymbridge Road commercial development announced

Proposals have been announced for a mixed-use commercial development at Plymbridge Road, Estover.

Proposed land between Thornbury Road and Plymbridge Road shall feature an 80,000 square foot superstore alongside a variety of retail and food & drink units, generating around 760 jobs and injecting approximately £7.6 million annually into the local economy.

The Plymbridge Road Development, proposed by Plymouth-based land promotion company Senate Properties shall comprise an 80,000 sq ft supermarket with petrol filling station; three 10,000 sq ft non-food retail units; five mixed-use 1,500 sq ft ‘pods’; a public house and three food outlets.

The development will transform the brownfield site currently operated by Vospers for the cleaning and maintenance of their fleet of hire vehicles, which remains highly underutilised in terms of its economic and employment potential. Investment as a result of the proposed development will enable the company to invest in new facilities and franchises across Plymouth, with the prospect of more jobs being created in the city.

Ian Russell, architect at Design Development, the Plymouth-based architectural firm managing the project, believes the development will stimulate the wider regeneration of Estover: “This is a much-needed development for the area, which we hope will kick-start its regeneration. The Plymbridge Road Development will create significant social, economic and environmental benefits to the local community and provide an enhanced shopping experience for residents.

“Plymouth City Council’s recent Retail and Centres Study concludes that the Estover Asda store is currently trading at a level nearly 50% higher than that it was designed for. The Plymbridge Road Development will provide much-needed additional floorspace to meet the needs of shoppers in Plymouth.  

“This stands out as a deliverable proposal. The development’s facilities will not only serve local residents but also provide enhanced retail facilities for people from the east, southeast and northeast of Plymouth. Crucially, this proposal will not directly compete with planned investment in the city centre, Derriford or Seaton and will not threaten the Council’s vision for a Derriford District Centre.”

The multi-million pound investment in the area will have the potential to create around 760 jobs for local residents alongside a further 150 jobs during the construction phase. It is hoped the development will form a valuable regeneration of this prominent ‘gateway’ site and act as a catalyst for the redevelopment of the wider Estover area, which is currently characterised by vacant and underutilised industrial units.

Ian said: “We have been working closely with statutory bodies and local businesses to ensure the development offers maximum benefits to both local residents and the local economy.

“The Plymbridge Road Development will enhance Plymouth’s shopping experience adding valuable supermarket floorspace to meet shoppers’ needs and help alleviate the problem that most city supermarkets are currently trading at levels considerably higher than that which they were designed for.”

“We are committed to the long-term legacy of the Plymbridge Road Development, which will provide enduring benefit to the local community and transform what is currently an underutilised area.”

Initial proposals have been submitted to Plymouth City Council and Senate Properties are keen to work closely with local residents and organisations to gain feedback on the development proposals.