BID team promises a bold new future for Plymouth Waterfront

27th February 2017

Ambitious plans to improve links between the city centre and the sea will be at the top of the agenda if the Waterfront Business Improvement District gets the go ahead.  

That’s the promise of the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership team as they make their final appeal to 877 businesses voting on whether to renew the BID for a further five years.  

They have been working closely with Plymouth City Council to develop a Waterfront Masterplan for a three-square mile area stretching from Royal William Yard to Queen Anne's Battery Marina.  

And the highest priority will be improvement between the city’s bus, rail, road and waterway links to make it easier for everyone to enjoy all that Plymouth has to offer.   Sarah Gibson, Waterfront Manager and PWP Chief Executive, said:

“We are all passionate about our beautiful Waterfront and over the last five years we have worked hand in hand with local businesses to identify the issues closest to their hearts.  

“Top of our agenda for the future will be helping people get around the city and make the most of the Waterfront’s beautiful shops, attractions, bars and restaurants.  

“Delivering the Waterfront Masterplan is of vital importance. Waterfront BID1’s powerful business voice, combined with our intimate knowledge of the waterfront enabled us to effectively campaign, fundraise and shape its future.”  

But she had a stark warning for local businesses considering a “No” vote, adding: “Many of the developments that are planned may not have the funding to succeed.  

“I would urge businesses to vote “Yes” in the BID2 ballot to ensure these great plans for the Waterfront can be delivered allowing Britain’s Ocean City to fulfil its incredible potential.”  

The partnership’s achievements since the original BID began in 2012 include securing millions of pounds of inward investment and increasing the numbers of visitors to popular events like the Pirate Weekend, the Seafood Festival and Mayflower Illuminate.  

During the first BID the city helped attract nearly £65m to the area, including the £50m redevelopment of the Quality Inn site to create a new five-star hotel on Plymouth’s iconic Hoe.  

The past five years also saw the regeneration of an area of Millbay with the building of 424 new homes, new commercial space, a new marina and the landmark Plymouth School of Creative Arts.  

A million pounds is being spent improving the Hoe Foreshore, more than £75,000 on lighting the Smeaton and Mount Batten Towers, nearly half a million pounds replacing the Mount Batten Pontoon and £5,000 on lighting the iconic Mayflower Steps.  

The partnership have been pushing heavily for investment for a new Cruise Terminal and help market the city as a cruise destination. During PWP BID 1 the waterfront also saw £370,000 invested on new Barbican public toilets, new public toilets at Devils Point and more than £670,000 on a new coastal cycle trail to help more people enjoy Plymouth’s waterfront areas.  

Aesthetic but equally important work protecting the Barbican’s historic cobbled streets, installing more flower planters, better Christmas decorations, clearer signage and cleaner roads and pavements.  

Since 2012 the Waterfront has seen huge levels of investment, new and exciting events and more and more people visiting.    But the future looks even brighter with the Waterfront Masterplan identifying 22 new sites for possible redevelopment.  

Masterplans include improved access to the water, new monthly markets, increased marketing of the Hoe and the creation of a new heritage trail featuring historic heroes like Drake, Cook, Scott and Darwin.  

And the partnership has been an integral part of the Make a Difference for Mayflower 400 Project which has seen a number of key waterfront locations refurbished ahead of the planned celebrations in 2020.  

Plymouth City Council cabinet member for culture, Councillor Glenn Jordan, said:

“The partnership’s record speaks for itself. The team has accomplished so much from creating a buoyant environment for investment to spearheading new developments and attracting new visitors to the city.  

“The businesses voting in the ballot need to realise there is no alternative. Without the input, ideas and commitment of the partnership there would be no organisation fighting solely for the future of the jewel in Plymouth’s crown, our beautiful Waterfront.”  

Traders – in a four-square mile area stretching from Stonehouse to Coxside - currently pay 1.5 per cent of their rateable value annually in return for the partnership’s enhanced services, projects, events and marketing.  

All 877 Waterfront businesses are due to return their ballot papers by March 1 and the result will be announced on March 8.  

Find out more at www.waterfrontbid.co.uk