Labour council leader Tudor Evans has committed Plymouth to losing 622 city centre car parking spaces and exploring emissions based parking charging by 2026 - changes that will fundamentally alter how residents access their city centre.
The 2040 Vision: Cars Out, Homes In
Councillor Evans' grand vision for 2040 involves radical changes to Plymouth's city centre, refocusing development around the Civic Centre as the "physical and symbolic centre of the city."
The 10,000 homes would be located within a 16-minute walk of Plymouth city centre, requiring sweeping changes to city centre roads and car parks.
In the cabinet's "City Centre Vision" published ahead of a cabinet meeting in March 2025, the plan requires removing almost all city centre car parks to make way for the new housing developments.
The plan calls for large retail blocks to be "broken up to create a series of human-scale lanes".
622 Parking Spaces Axed
Cllr Evans' vision for 2040 involves the complete removal of seven city centre car parks:
- Mayflower Street East (292 spaces)
- Mayflower Street West (81 spaces)
- Mayflower House Court (75 spaces)
- Plymouth City Market (65 spaces)
- Guildhall Car Park (42 spaces)
- Cornwall Street West (18 spaces)
- Cornwall Street East (49 spaces)
The 2016-built coach station may also be grassed over under the plans.
ULEZ by Stealth
Perhaps most concerning for motorists, the council's Net Zero Action Plan includes exploring "emissions-based vehicle charging tariffs" by the end of 2026 - Plymouth's own version of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone.
The plan aims to reduce the "dominance" of the ring road, converting Royal Parade's dual carriageway into a tree-lined avenue and grassing over roundabouts at Charles Cross, St Andrews Cross, and Derrys Cross. New average speed cameras are already set to go up along Royal Parade later in the year, but these plans take this a step further.
The ultimate irony comes with promises of a "newly landscaped Armada Way" - conveniently ignoring the fact that Evans' own councillors abstained from a vote that led to the destruction of mature trees along that very route in 2023.
The Housing Deal
These radical changes are being driven by Cllr Evans' agreement to build 10,000 new homes in Plymouth city centre, following months of high-profile meetings with ministers and officials since Labour returned to government in July 2024.
Evans' Lobbying Campaign
Since the general election, Cllr Evans has conducted what can only be described as a sustained lobbying effort, including multiple meetings with Homes England officials and a joint approach with local MPs to lobby Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook for increased investment in October 2024.
The campaign culminated in Evans and Chief Executive Tracey Lee attending the UK Real Estate Investment Forum (UKREiiF) last month, where they met with housing developers to promote Plymouth as an investment opportunity.
The Infamous Lunch
Cllr Evans' networking efforts haven't gone unnoticed. In November, former councillor Nick Kelly branded Cllr Evans "insensitive" after the council leader posted photos of his "tasty lunch" during a Homes England meeting. The lavish meal featured Salmon Pate, Braised Beef Brisket, and Sticky Toffee Pudding - hardly the modest fare taxpayers might expect during discussions about "affordable" housing.
How insensitive! Is this post appropriate when so many are struggling and having allowances taken away, or face losing their businesses and farms whilst you bleat that PCC has no money, but you still rack up record borrowing with eye watering interest payments? But that’s you🤡
— Nick Kelly (@NKelly_IFA) November 28, 2024
The Deal
On Wednesday 18th June, Cllr Evans and Homes England CEO Eamonn Boylan signed the Memorandum of Understanding. Cllr Evans described it as "another important step along the road to making a vision a reality," adding: "With change of this scale in the pipeline, we need to set out and confirm common goals."
Plymouth Up for Grabs
At the UKREiiF conference, Plymouth featured heavily as the city was marketed to developers. Two major sites are now "up for grabs":
Plymouth's West End: A two-hectare site off Western Approach, with the council controlling most surrounding buildings. Development planned between 2027 and 2034.
Armada North: "The investment opportunity" covers the northern city centre, including potential use of the Mayflower House car park—removing 72 parking spaces from the city centre.
Public Backlash the tragic loss of over 100 mature trees along that very route.
As news of Cllr Evans' deal emerges, residents are already questioning both the process and the outcomes. Comments online reveal deep skepticism:
"Let's hope they are for Plymouth people!!"
"With this lousy council's track record, I bet it won't be as good as it sounds"
"Problem with that is where is the parking bad enough now"
"This area will turn into a slum like other big cities."
"Problem with that is ware is the parking bad enough now And who would want to live in the concrete jungle of town Also are they for people on social housing list ,or is it going to be so called affordable housing .The answer to that is affordable to who?"
Lack of Consultation
What's most striking about Cllr Evans' housing push is the apparent lack of meaningful public consultation. The council leader has spent months in meetings with officials, developers, and ministers, but residents are only learning about the scale of changes through council statements and property marketing materials.
The Bottom Line: Tudor Evans has committed Plymouth to a radical transformation that will remove hundreds of parking spaces, potentially introduce emissions based parking charging, and fundamentally change how residents access their city centre. All of this has been negotiated behind closed doors, with taxpayers finding out after the deals are done.
For a council leader who claims to represent Plymouth's interests, Cllr Evans seems more focused on impressing London officials over expensive lunches than consulting the people who actually live here.
Sign up for free below to get notified with all the latest breaking news from Plymouth Plus.
