The West End of Plymouth city centre is preparing to unlock with a new look including LED lighting and soft play areas in a bid to attract shoppers back to the high street.
Plymouth City Council has revamped the Frankfort Gate area of the city centre during the third lockdown, bringing in “colour and light” to a location where some new businesses have opened recently.
The work has included adding blue-hue LED strip lighting around trees; creating larger beds for the trees to spread their roots; installing a colourful soft play surface for children; refurbished and colourful seating; new street lighting and power points for events.
New planting will be now going in around the beds in the area, where the footbridge, and its ramps, over Western Approach, has been demolished, and the road crossing replaced with a new layout and access to the multi-storey car park and Stonehouse. Planting and other environmental work has also been carried out in Market Avenue and Cornwall Street.
The West End revamp is a joint project by Plymouth City Council and the City Centre Company and is designed to create a more vibrant feel to encourage more people to sit out and enjoy the cafes, once the economy can be safely reopened.
The work has been progressing steadily over the past year with contractors taking into account COVID safe working practices. The footbridge was demolished and taken away over three days in September 2020 before the new crossing built.
The scheme also ties in with a major improvement programme to commercial and residential properties in Frankfort Gate which are owned by Plymouth Community Homes.
That work included new, colourful gable ends in Frankfort Gate and improvements to the upstairs flats, including the introduction of colourful panels to tie in with the West End brand.
New business arrivals in the area include Rise Bakery in Frankfort Gate, which is a new concept from Rick Stein-trained Lloyd Inwood; and Daamn Good Bakes, in New George Street.
Soul Food Vendor is also expanding from its location in Plymouth Market with a new-look restaurant in Mayflower Avenue, serving Jamaican food, rum and cocktails.
Steve Hughes, chief executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, said: “We can’t wait to show off the new look West End to shoppers and visitors when they return after lockdown.
“The new space in Frankfort Gate is the perfect place for families and friends to gather and enjoy a coffee or bite to eat. It will also provide a new events space for outdoor entertainment and will be good news for businesses in and around Plymouth Market.”
City Centre champion Cllr Mark Lowry said: “Roll on the easing of lockdown. I can’t wait to see people enjoy being in this spot. Instead of a dreary metal bridge, we’ve created space which is great for people to eat and drink.
“For anyone who has not been down there recently - you really need to go. There’s some exceptional food and amazing coffee is being served up and I can’t think of a nicer way of supporting local businesses after the lock down.”
