Plymouth planning: Royal William Yard plans to fill unit empty for years

Plans have been unveiled to give a new lease of life to a vacant unit as part of the New Cooperage building at the historic Royal William Yard. The most recent use of the unit was as office space for the University of Plymouth who occupied the space until 2022.

But since then, it has been vacant and without a tenant. Now though plans have been submitted in order to bring it back into use. The proposal, among the latest submitted to Plymouth City Council, seeks to install a new dividing wall at first floor in order to split the existing central office space into two separate office.

It also includes the installation of a new external fire escape stair to the west of the building, providing a vital secondary fire escape route. The split of the unit has been informed by the reduced demand from tenants for large office spaces since the changes to office/ home working as a result of the COVID pandemic, a statement with the scheme says.

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It adds: “This application seeks to retain its office use, but with a more flexibility in the size of the units on offer to prospective tenants. Two layout options have been submitted. This is because it is important that there is flexibility in the way the space is divided now and in the future to ensure the building can respond to changes in the rental market. Without this flexibility there is far less certainty on the sustainability of the space and the impact having this large office space unoccupied would have on other related businesses in the yard.

“The office space has been vacant since 2022 when the University of Plymouth moved out of the building. Since then, Urban Splash have been pro-actively marketing the space to an array of tenants, however there is no longer the demand for such large office spaces.

“Recent tenant feedback gained by Urban Splash though the marketing of these units also confirmed that tenants are seeking smaller sized units. By continuing to adapt opportunities to suit the needs of commercial businesses, footfall is increased and the financial viability of the Yard as a whole is maintained.”

Plymouth City Council planners will determine the fate of all the new applications listed below at a later date. Below is the full latest list of planning applications that have been submitted this week.

Plymouth planning list

· Two-storey rear and side extension - 91 Underlane Plymstock Plymouth PL9 9LB - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SIIV3YMMIUZ00&activeTab=summary

· Single-storey rear extension and two-storey side extension - 92 Furneaux Road Plymouth PL2 3EU - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SIIFTGMMIUI00&activeTab=summary

· Discharge of condition 9 (district heating and low carbon) of application 23/01321/S73 - Derriford Hospital Derriford Road Plymouth PL6 8DH - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SIIS9VMMIUT00&activeTab=summary

· Application to vary condition 3 (surface water drainage) of application 23/00253/FUL to allow discharge of attenuated surface water to a combined sewer - 10 Queens Road Lipson Plymouth PL4 7PL - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SIH1TIMMIU000&activeTab=summary

· The installation of new non-illuminated signage - 61 Cattedown Road Plymouth PL4 0PL - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SIH1S3MMITY00&activeTab=summary

· Proposed single storey rear/side extension and new entrance porch, including new terraced areas at the rear - Glen Devon 297 Dean Cross Road Plymouth PL9 7AZ - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SIH5ZGMMIU500&activeTab=summary

· Proposed alterations to southern façade - 24 - 26 George Place Plymouth PL1 3NY - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SIBF06MMIRK00&activeTab=summary

· Proposal for 3No. fascia signs, 1No. totem sign, 1No. arch sign, 1No. mast sign, 3No. flagpoles. - Bristol Street Motors, 257 Ridgeway Plymouth PL7 1AJ - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SIAYBMMMIQZ00&activeTab=summary

· Installation of internal dividing wall and new external fire escape stair - New Cooperage Building Royal William Yard Plymouth PL1 3RP - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SI9N3LMMIQO00&activeTab=summary

· Pre-application for 10 proposed industrial units for B2 and B8 use - 17 Bell Close Plymouth PL7 4JH - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SI5KH0MM05L00&activeTab=summary

· Replacement rear extension (part retrospective) - 48 Compton Avenue Plymouth PL3 5DA - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SI41ORMMIMZ00&activeTab=summary

· Establish existing use of property as a 5 Bed, 5 person HMO (Class C4 ). - 21 Beaumont Road Plymouth PL4 9BA - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SHYHR9MM04Q00&activeTab=summary

· Decking to the rear of the property, to cover the width of the house, circa 3.6 metres, and extend to the rear wall of the garden, maximum 4.5 metres - 248 Beaumont Road Plymouth PL4 9EQ - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SDZTM8MMGNL00&activeTab=summary

· Temporary change of use for a two-year period to material storage/contractor compound for City Centre redevelopment works - Former Quality Hotel Site Cliff Road West Hoe Plymouth PL1 3DR - https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SDHCBWMMGEM00&activeTab=summary