Four Mercedes-Benz showrooms, a removals warehouse in Exeter, and retail parks in Redruth, Launceston and Saltash.
These are just a few properties Plymouth City Council has invested in - while selling off beloved city assets like Pounds House. This has left residents asking why the council won't invest in their assets.
Now, data analysed by Plymouth Plus reveals the full scale of the council’s property investments outside of Plymouth. The council regularly publishes a list of all the properties it owns, including address, tenure and how each site is used.
But it's the scale of investment outside of the city that has left residents confused about why Tudor Evans's council has prioritised investment away from Plymouth.
Our investigation reveals that at least 89 of the properties are located outside Plymouth. The most eye-catching investment is a portfolio of Mercedes-Benz showrooms across the South West. Plymouth City Council owns the following:
- Mercedes-Benz Taunton (freehold)
- Mercedes-Benz Exeter (leasehold)
- Mercedes-Benz Truro (freehold)
- Mercedes-Benz Plymouth (freehold)
The council owns another unit in Kestrel Way in Exeter. While this is elusively labelled "Unit A" and does not show on maps, this appears to refer to a removals warehouse operated by Bishop’s Move.
The council also owns a series of recently-built retail parks in Cornwall. This includes Launceston Retail Park, Treleigh Business Park in Redruth and Carkeel Gateway in Saltash.
Although the council has been investing heavily in these assets, at the same time it has been disposing of some of Plymouth's most prominent buildings. This includes the Merchants House in St Andrew's Street and Pounds House in Central Park.
The revelations have left residents asking: if Tudor Evans really believes in Plymouth, why won't he invest in Plymouth?
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