Civic Centre conversion at Civic Centre, Armada Way, Plymouth
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Plymouth Planning Committee on 30 Jul 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought listed building consent for conversion, demolition, façade changes, public realm works and associated alterations.
“Proposal Description This is an application for Listed Building Consent for “Internal and external works to convert building (inc part demolition), alterations to elevation including new cladding, public realm and associated works.”
Officer report
The site
The site contains the Grade II listed Civic Centre Tower, surrounding blocks, a listed park and garden, bridge links and nearby listed buildings.
“Description of Site The Civic Centre is located within the city centre, north of the Hoe. The application site is formed of the Grade II listed Civic Centre Tower, a vacant fourteen storey office block, along with two storey blocks to the north and south and a reception area, which the Tower sits above. There is currently hoarding as there have been ongoing works at the site, implementing the extant consent.”
“The application site includes a pond located between the Council House and Civic Centre. This forms part of the listed park and garden. This Grade II Listed park and garden includes the wider public realm to the east of the Civic Centre, inclusive of this section of Armada Way and the Civic Square.”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended conditional approval, finding that heritage harm would be less than substantial and outweighed by conservation and public benefits.
“It is concluded that the following works will result in less than substantial harm to the Grade II Listed building: * Loss, replacement and design of east and west façades. Harm is mitigated through the retention of key features of the existing design (glazing, variation in depth, Fibonacci pattern within cladding) * Civic sign on roof. Harm is mitigated through its reversible nature. * Installation of bridge link.”
“Paragraph 215 of the NPPF applies, and the harm has been weighed against the public benefits of the proposal including securing its optimum viable use. It is considered that the proposals will bring the following public benefits as listed below:”
Officer report
Committee proceedings
A site visit took place, the presentation was combined with the previous item, and a legal adviser was replaced because of a conflict of interest.
“(There was a change of Legal Advisor for this item due to conflict of interest. Graham Cridland (Planning Lawyer) replaced Natalie Gloyn (Lawyer)).”
“The presentation for this application was combined with the previous item, 6.1.”
Minutes
The final decision
The committee granted the application conditionally as set out in the officer report.
“The Committee agreed to grant the application conditionally, as set out in the report:”
Minutes
Sources
- Plymouth Planning Committee minutes, 30 July 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Plymouth's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Plymouth Planning Committee
- Council
- Plymouth
- Date
- Thursday 30 July 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- 11 for, 0 against
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Plymouth committee decisions →
Source: Plota analysis of the minutes.
This committee's year
20 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.