After years of controversy, disruption and anticipation, Plymouth’s new £30 million Armada Way is now officially open.
The long awaited unveiling took place on Saturday (4 July), with a ribbon cutting ceremony led by Labour council leader Tudor Evans alongside Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet Member for Organisational Efficiency.
Hundreds of people filled the Plymouth City Centre as the fences came down on one of Plymouth’s biggest public realm projects in decades.
The new-look Armada Way now includes the country’s largest city centre children’s play area, water features, lighting, and seating areas.
Children were among the first to rush into the huge play zone, which includes wooden huts, swings, slides, climbing areas, a pirate shipwreck, water jets, sensory play spaces and woodland-style tree houses.
The opening marks the end of a major transformation of the half-kilometre stretch which has been reshaped with 176 new trees, around 25,000 plants, gardens, terraces and new places to sit.
A time capsule containing memories, messages and visions for Plymouth’s future has also been buried beneath a plaque.
It is due to be opened in 2047, marking 100 years since Armada Way was rebuilt after the Second World War.
The project has cost around £30 million and has taken nearly two years to complete.
It has reopened the sweeping route from North Cross towards the Hoe, restoring a key part of the Plymouth vision first set out after the Blitz.
The new water rill and drainage system are designed to manage surface water across Armada Way, with rain gardens, reed beds and underground storage tanks helping to reduce pressure on the sewer system.
Councillor Mark Lowry (Labour, Southway) said it had been a long journey to reach the opening day. He said:
“It’s certainly been a journey to get here. We know it has been tough at times for our businesses just look at it now. It is brilliant!
"This scheme has utterly transformed the look and feel of the city centre. We invested in this scheme because we want our city centre to be a great place to visit, to be a destination.
“Our city centre is already bucking national trends with footfall well and truly up and we hope this regeneration will encourage more families in particular to enjoy this fabulous FREE facility and perhaps treat themselves to a pasty and a coffee while their children enjoy this new play village.
“This scheme has so many features worth reminding people about – over 25,000 flowers planted, over 500 spaces for people to sit on – and we’ve seen so many people enjoy the south facing views on sunny days. We have opened up the city centre as a place to be and a place to enjoy.”
Steve Hughes, chief executive of Plymouth City Centre Company, said the new Armada Way was already proving good news for the city centre. He said:
"We are delighted with the way Armada Way has been transformed into a beautiful urban park where people can gather, watch or join in events or sit outside at one of the many pavement cafes.
"With new seating, lighting and lots of open space it is more welcoming and attracting lots of interest from new businesses wanting to open here. It’s great news for the city centre.”
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