Property development plans in Plymouth abandoned

Developers had been planning to create a ‘retirement village’, creating 65 jobs, on Tothill Sidings in central Plymouth

Plans to build nearly 200 retirement apartments, a restaurant and bar on a derelict plot of land in Plymouth have been abandoned.

Developers had been planning to create a ‘retirement village’, creating 65 jobs, on a brownfield patch of former railway land known as Tothill Sidings , near the Friary Retail Park, in central Plymouth.

The scheme would have also seen 195 flats, and care and wellness facilities including a lounge, café/bistro, licensed bar, games room, village hall, gym and fitness suite, library and IT lounge, arts and crafts room, plus a wellness clinic staffed by a registered nurse and ‘empowerment suite’ for those living with dementia built.

Inglis and Carr Architects were brought in to develop the scheme and a public consultation was even carried out in November 2020 for the new development, which was due to be called Friary Village, with the intention of plans being submitted to Plymouth City Council.

But the company set up to steer the development, Future Street (Plymouth) Ltd, has gone into voluntary liquidation and founding director Jenny West told Business Live the development was now ‘not happening’ because of the ‘challenging business environment’.

She said: The current climate plays a large part so right now it is not going ahead. It’s a challenging business environment, for sure.

Parent firm, Surrey-based Future Street, continues however, and is working on plans for further retirement community developments in cities and on the fringes of towns and villages.

Mrs West said there is a dearth of ‘retirement living’ and said: The need for older persons’ accommodation is significant, and that is the need we are continuing to explore - although not right now in Tothill, Plymouth.