Work is about to start on the £7.2million second phase of Plymouth’s part-EU-funded Oceansgate marine enterprise development.
The contract for construction of Oceansgate Phase 2 is to be awarded to construction giant Kier, the firm which built Plymouth’s £29.5million student accommodation block Beckley Point, the South West’s tallest building.
Oceansgate is being created on disused MoD land in South Yard, Devonport. It will b become a £14.3million marine Enterprise Zone and help cement the city’s ambition as a maritime powerhouse.
The development’s first phase was completed in April 2018 and is now a base for eight businesses, including the new Marine Business Technology Centre, as well as Lang & Potter Marine, international marine consultants MECAL and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Phase 2 will see the creation of a new three-storey office building and 15 light industrial units, which have the potential to create an additional 130 jobs.
The buildings have been designed to be flexible, allowing for a range of sizes of industrial and office space, depending on businesses’ needs.
Like Phase 1, the plans for Phase 2 include the use of natural building materials such as stone to ensure the development fits within its historic surroundings at South Yard.
The contract for constructing Phase 2 is worth £7.6 million. This second phase of Oceansgate has been funded by a £2.25million grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and a Plymouth City Council loan.
Kier employs more than 1,000 people across the South West and has been involved in many of the region's most significant construction projects.
It has a Plymouth base in Crownhill's Plumer House and, in addition to Beckley Point, is responsible for three key Plymouth projects: Derriford Research Facility at Plymouth Science Park; Plymouth Studio School, and the STEM building at City College Plymouth. It also built the new £5million Scott Medical and Healthcare College, at Stoke Damerel Community College.
What is the European Regional Development Fund?
Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund.
For more information click here
In Exeter, Kier, already involved in a project to bring Riverside swimming pool back into use, was chosen in 2018 by Exeter City Council's to transform the city’s crumbling bus and coach station site into a new depot with a leisure centre attached.
In Cornwall it has worked on the £60million A30 dualling project at Temple.
South West construction stories
Kier has also delivered a number of projects in and around Bristol, including the £19million Bristol Aerospace Centre, which houses the last Concorde plane to fly.
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Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans, said: “Oceansgate is a fantastic development, and one we’re really proud of. It’s bringing more jobs and more investment to Plymouth and cementing our status as a leading location for marine industry in the UK.
“It’s a unique offering for businesses, with such close proximity to Princess Yachts, the Dockyard and Babcock, as well as to the in- and on-water testing opportunities offered out by Smart Sound Plymouth, a new proving ground for developing cutting edge technologies.”
To learn more about Oceansgate click here
