Morgan Sindall completes historic transformation of Plymouth's Armada Way
Morgan Sindall Construction's South West business has officially handed over the £29.89 million Armada Way regeneration scheme to Plymouth City Council, completing one of the most significant public realm projects the city has seen and reimagining the heart of its centre.
The handover was formally celebrated at a short ceremony on Saturday 4 July 2026, followed by a public celebration along the half-kilometre stretch and the opening of the new play village – one of the largest city-centre play areas in the country.
As part of Plymouth City Council's wider Better Places Programme, the project has transformed Armada Way into a greener, safer, and more accessible destination designed to support city centre living, leisure, events, and active travel for decades to come.
Originally conceived as part of the renowned Abercrombie and Watson Plan for Plymouth in 1943, Armada Way was designed as a grand civic boulevard symbolising confidence in the city's future following the devastation of the Second World War.
Over time, however, the route had fallen into decline, with ageing infrastructure, reduced footfall and underused public spaces impacting its role as a key city centre destination.
The regeneration programme has sought to restore the scale and ambition of the original vision while creating a contemporary public space that meets the needs of modern Plymouth.
A strong focus on sustainability and biodiversity runs throughout the scheme. It features 176 new trees, bringing the total to over 200 trees, comprising a diverse mix of UK native and ornamental species selected for their resilience to disease and climate change.
New wildlife habitats, including bug hotels, bird boxes, reed beds, and wildflower planting, have also been introduced to encourage pollinators and enhance biodiversity across the city centre.
The project also incorporates a sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS), partially powered by solar canopies at Place de Brest, which is capable of diverting up to 77% of surface water away from the existing combined sewer network.
Armada Way now features a 1,120 sq m destination play village - equivalent in size to almost five tournament tennis courts.
Around 500 seating spaces have been installed throughout the route, complemented by flexible event spaces at the amphitheatre, Place de Brest and near the Sundial. Each location has been equipped with power and water connections to support markets, performances, cultural events, and community activities.
Active travel has also been prioritised through the introduction of a new 2.5-metre-wide cycle route and a dedicated mobility hub provides Beryl Bike hire facilities alongside covered cycle storage.
Safety improvements include upgraded lighting columns running throughout the scheme, feature lighting designed to enhance the public realm after dark, enhanced CCTV coverage, and improved sightlines to help create a safer and more welcoming environment.
The scheme was procured through the SCAPE Construction Framework with Morgan Sindall appointed in 2022 to deliver works across four key areas of Plymouth City Centre.
The contractor has previously completed the Old Town Street and New George Street improvements, restoration works to the Grade II-listed Civic Square park and gardens, and the Royal Parade Improvement Scheme.
Graham Kingdon, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the South West, said:
Handing Armada Way back to the people of Plymouth marks an important milestone for everyone involved in the project. Delivering a scheme of this scale and complexity in the heart of a busy city centre has required a huge collective effort, and the finished result reflects the commitment, expertise and collaboration shown by our team, supply chain partners and the council throughout.
Working closely with Plymouth City Council, we've helped transform Armada Way into a place where people can spend time, connect with their surroundings, and enjoy the city in a safe and welcoming environment.”
Councillor Mark Lowry, Cabinet Member responsible for Armada Way, said:
This has been an extremely important and high profile project which has been closely scrutinised by many.
But just take a look at what is now there. It is an astonishing transformation and has completely lifted the city centre. We have created places to play, places to sit and places for bands and events – not to mention the 25,000 plants to enjoy.
“The location has been a hive of activity and I would like to thank all the workers who have been operating in a very public place, in a constrained environment and to tight time scales – they have done a great job.”
Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at SCAPE said:
Armada Way was a significant and complex project that required close collaboration throughout, and we are proud to have worked closely with Morgan Sindall and Plymouth City Council to deliver this project together. Through the SCAPE Construction Framework, early contractor involvement and strategic guidance helped accelerate delivery from the outset. We look forward to seeing local people and visitors enjoy this revitalised space for years to come.”
ENDS