Britain’s ‘underrated’ coastal city scraps plans for new £100m train station
THE £100million plans to revamp Plymouth’s train station have been scrapped.
It was set to be a new ‘gateway’ for the city, completely transforming the current site – but these plans are now under review and unlikely to go ahead.
Back in 2018, designs were first drawn up to transform the Devonshire station with a huge outdoor plaza and a revamp of Plymouth‘s train terminal.
The project called Brunel Plaza, would have seen 100 new homes built, a new hotel and a multi-storey car park.
There would have been a large pedestrian area too and outdoor dining spaces with seating areas.
The former railway offices behind the station were earmarked to become part of the university campus.
In the original plans this was even considered to have a top floor viewing room, and even a sky cafe, which was going to act as a “beacon” at night for the city.
It was being developed by AHR, which had been appointed by US-based engineering giant Tetra Tech to develop the Brunel Plaza design on behalf of Plymouth City Council.
Their initial document said the idea was to develop the public area outside Plymouth Station to create a mainly pedestrian area that will create a welcoming spot to those arriving in Plymouth.
At the time, it said the upgrade was needed because “the railway station and its surrounding environment currently acts as a poor gateway and arrival point into Plymouth”.
In 2024 the council said the plan faced years of delay, there were also questions about funding and certain planning consent had expired.
Part of the transformation did go ahead however, the former railway offices are now part of the University of Plymouth.
Called Intercity, the building was renovated and opened in 2023 as a place for trainee healthcare professionals.
Plymouth City Council has now said it will review the scheme and bring out a new business plan later this year.
It also said that it is looking at a package of ways to improve public transport for Plymouth.
The city was once dubbed one of the most ‘underrated’ places to visit in the UK.
In 2023, Time Out revealed the 14 destinations that should be on your list this year that aren’t the usual tourist spots.
Plymouth came in seventh place thanks to its art scene and rich history.
While the plans to renovate the train station for Plymouth have been paused, local media further added that a train station is being considered in Plympton.
The Plymouth suburb did once have a train station, but it closed to passengers in 1959 and to goods traffic until 1954.
Shortly afterwards it was demolished.
Some expressed they would like to see a station return – one local wrote on a Facebook post: “The station at Plympton is a must and it’s great that they are finally looking at bringing it back.”
A proposal to open a station at Plympton was first raised in 2018, but no official plans have been made or drawn up.
For more on train stations, here are seven new ones coming to the UK under £14billion plans.
And here’s the UK’s busiest train station with 100million passengers which has finally got the go ahead for controversial £1.2billion expansion.