Plymouth gets ready for Civic Centre’s major regeneration phase
Scaffolding will envelop iconic building as transformation project advances
Last updated 20th Aug 2026
Plymouth City Council is gearing up for a major milestone in the transformation of the Civic Centre as scaffolding begins by the end of September 2026 for its regeneration, a project led in collaboration with Capital&Centric.
Building contractors have been appointed to begin phase one, marking a significant step towards restoring the iconic landmark.
This phase includes external cladding removal, asbestos clearance, and extensive demolition works.
Scaffolding will cover the entire Civic building by Christmas, initiating the busiest period of regeneration.
Morgan Sindall is recommended to receive the phase 1 contract, valued at £6,488,753, with a Cabinet meeting on 24th August set to discuss the proposal and facilitate immediate work start.
Councillor Matt Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing, City Centre Regeneration and Events, voiced enthusiasm for the upcoming works:
“There’s a real sense of momentum building around the Civic. Planning and listed building consent have now been granted."
Smith added:
"Now the Council, working with Capital&Centric and City College Plymouth, have a contractor lined up for the next phase – Morgan Sindall – who have shown they are more than capable of tackling difficult projects in Plymouth. It’s all systems go!”
The initiative also includes establishing a Blue Green Skills Hub run by City College Plymouth, aiming to train up to 2,000 students annually post-regeneration.
The redevelopment plans include transforming the Civic Square area, restoring the Grade 2 listed Civic Pond, pending contractor appointment and consent for related works.
Tim Heatley, chair and co-founder of Capital&Centric, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration:
“Big things happen when good people pull in the same direction. This latest progress is proof of that.”
Capital&Centric remains committed to restoring and repurposing the building into 144 high-quality homes and developing a new vibrant community centre.
Heatley emphasised the partnership with the Council to revive the Civic building:
“Working shoulder-to-shoulder with Plymouth City Council to bring this absolute icon back to life has been brilliant – proper partnership, shared ambition and a city getting stuff done.”
As Plymouth’s landmark undergoes transformation, the report showcases achievements since the Council regained building ownership, including planning consent, designer appointments, and significant funding secured from Homes England’s Brownfield Infrastructure Land fund.
With scaffolding set to rise and demolition commencing, Plymouth awaits the most visible transformation phase of its beloved Civic Centre.