English Partnerships - Plymouth, Seaton Barracks
Date: 22 Dec 1998
English Partnerships today gave Plymouth one of the best Christmas presents ever, with its announcement that it has purchase Seaton Barracks and is committed to begin works on a £6 million scheme to transform Seaton Barracks into a major new industrial and commercial site for the City. It is estimated that the 38 hectare site will create over 1,000 new jobs.
The site was vacated by the MoD in 1995, when it became surplus to requirements. Without English Partnerships' support, and the City Councils decision to zone the site for employment uses, it would not have been possible to create this major employment opportunity,
The release of the land for development means Plymouth will be able to compete as a top location for inward investment and create additional jobs in successful larger local companies looking to expand in the City. Lack of large, available development sites particularly those over 10 ha. (25 acres) has previously meant the City has missed out to other parts of the UK in the battle to secure investment and jobs.
Additional investment, by English Partnerships will be used to clear the redundant military buildings and to put new roads, services and infrastructure in place.
The site will take three - five years to complete, with the first 7,300 sq m of new space expected by the year 2000.
John Burrows, Regional Director of English Partnerships comments,
"This is excellent news, not only for Plymouth but for the Westcountry as a whole. The availability of a significant strategic site like Seaton Barracks is exactly what this part of the region needs to establish it as a major location for investment. it is what we have been working towards over the last three years".
"Combined with the new premises we are providing across the region through our Factories First initiative, the site will ensure that this part of the region can compete much more effectively than in previous years. We're delighted to have secured such an important asset for the region. It gives Devon and Cornwall an excellent start within the new Regional Development Agency".
Phase 1 of the works to the site is due to start in the new year and will include demolition of all buildings, excluding the officers Mess and Seaton Pool, the roundabout cast/west from Tavistock Road to Brest construction of a newroad and provision of essential services to the Road with traffic lights at Tavistock Road an site. outline planning permission has already been give), for the improvements, subject to 106 agreements. It is likely to create over so jobs in the construction industry.
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