Plymouth ‘iconic’ tower block up for sale
Plymouth City Council look to sell their Civic Centre due to the cost of its upkeep
Plymouth City Council are preparing to sell their 15-storey Grade II listed Civic Centre in a bid to raise funds and make large savings on public expenditure.
The office building cost £1.6 million when work began on it in 1957 as part of Plymouth’s post-war regeneration and was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1962.
The site covers 1.03 acres and includes the Council House, the office tower block and a car park with over 100 spaces. The building is blessed with 236,894 square feet of office space and has uniquely become a landmark on the Plymouth skyline.
Although the site was ready for demolition in 2007, plans had to be aborted when it was awarded Grade II listed status by English Heritage – much to the city council’s chagrin.
With the council unable to demolish the building, they are instead putting the site out to tender, although they have not yet stipulated a price.
The council believe the building has cost Plymouth tax-payers over £650,000 in the previous two years. They are not in the position to justify the site’s upkeep due to the austerity measures expected to be announced by the coalition government over the coming weeks.
Estate agents Knight Frank have been instructed by the council to sell the building. They have admitted they are looking for statements of intent by interested businesses as opposed to concrete offers for the site.
Should the council be unable to offload the Civic Centre, it would be willing to come to an arrangement with English Heritage as regards to redeveloping the building.