The construction of a £13million Plymouth waterfront apartment block has reached a key milestone and is on track for completion in 2021.
Work began on the eight-storey pile on the former Royal Navy base at Mount Wise in 2019 and continued despite the challenges thrown up by the coronavirus pandemic.
Now it has been “topped out” with the completion of the structural frame of the building, and the tower, previously known only as Area D, has been given a name: Teesra House.
This is because it overlooks Plymouth Cricket Club’s pitch, so has been named after the Teesra, a type of off-spin bowling delivery which Pakistan test cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq claims to have invented.
Teesra House, the fourth phase of the redevelopment of the former military headquarters at Mount Wise, will contain a mix of 73 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with a combination of waterside and city views.
With Covid-19 restrictions in place, it was not possible to hold a traditional topping out ceremony, celebrating completing the highest structural point of the building.
However, the construction team from Pollard took the opportunity to raise a “virtual” toast to the completion of the development in 2021.
Bill Badham, managing director of Pollard, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating reaching the completion of the frame, a fantastic effort given all the challenges caused by the current pandemic. “It has been a real team effort and reflects the collaboration between our client Mount Wise (Devon) Ltd, ourselves, the consultant team and our supply chain, many of whom worked with us on the previous phase, Leeward House.
“A particularly pleasing aspect of this development is the contribution it is making to the local economy, not just in terms of the consultant team who are all based in the region, but also in employing a locally based supply chain wherever possible.
“We now look forward to completing and handing over next year another landmark building on Plymouth’s waterfront skyline to Mount Wise.”
Teesra House, on land that was once squash courts, represents Phase Four in the ongoing redevelopment of the 28-acre Mount Wise waterside plot.
This land was used by the Royal Navy for 200 years before the senior service pulled out in 2004. The land, including the cricket pitch, was sold by Defence Estates for £5.5million in 2006.
Mount Wise (Devon) Ltd has since invested more than £35million in the site where work started on Phase One’s 159 units, a £14.5million project at that time dubbed “the village by the sea”, in 2010 and ended two years later.
In 2013 Mount Wise (Devon) Ltd started Phase Two, building flats and houses either side of the Grade II-listed Admiralty House, once the home of the Royal Navy’s top brass.
The £13.5million Phase Two scheme encompassed 59 units, a mix of houses and flats, built either side of the square, now a car park, outside Admiralty House. This has been named Maritime Quarter.
Meanwhile, 30 units (28 flats, and a couple of three-bed houses), went up either side of Admiralty House, with extensive views over the River Tamar.
Phase Three was Leeward House, the £10million, six-floor apartment block overlooking the Tamar. Work started in 2016 and it was completed by 2019 with 59 flats inside it.
How to contact William Telford and Business Live
Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
To contact William: Email: william.telford@reachplc.com - Phone: 01752 293116 - Mob: 07584 594052 - Twitter: @WTelfordHerald - LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com - Facebook: www.facebook.com/william.telford.5473
Stay in touch: BusinessLive newsletters have been re-designed to make them even better. We send morning bulletins straight to your inbox on the latest news, views and opinion in the South West. Get our breaking news alerts and weekly sector reviews too. Sign up now - it's free and it only takes a minute. To sign up for Business Live's daily newsletters click here.
And visit the Business Live South West LinkedIn page here
Admiralty House is now being restored and transformed into 12 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with access to private gardens and parking.
Emma Faraday, on behalf of Mount Wise (Devon) Ltd added: “We are truly excited to have reached this stage in the project. Teesra House is really starting to take shape and you can see how fabulous these homes will be.
“There is a true sense of open space around the building with the cricket pitch providing both a tremendous outlook and backdrop. The views from the building are simply stunning.
“We are very grateful to our construction team and all of our consultants for managing to progress the project through these difficult times. The challenges have been unprecedented, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts in overcoming these.
"We have already received considerable interest for the apartments, and we look forward to opening the doors to our show homes when they become available next year.”
