Armada Way civic space redesign opened on 4th July 2026 in the heart of Plymouth; concept follows the original postwar Abercrombie design of a north-south axis towards the Hoe, creating a pedestrian linear ‘park’.
In direct collaboration with Studio Agora (architects/hard landscape designers) with whom we designed the General Arrangement, we then evolved the soft landscape design, to completion. The team included RIDGE engineers/SpaceLA arborists & ecologists/OCMIS water system designers, among others, working for MorganSindallConstruction under Design-Build.
The project was delayed due to public objections from certain quarters and although many existing trees had always been planned to keep, some additional trees have had to be retained (due to political pragmatism) with obvious design compromises, redesigns & technical complexity. New trees are more appropriate in species/size/location/technical design than the 1980s scheme these replace (wrong species in wrong places, compromising below ground services) and form groups of the same tree species to reinforce the public mental map of Armada Way, with a species variety to help longevity in times of changing climate.
Technically, soil-crates (RootSpace) underground now provide these new semi-matures with generous volumes of soil for root growth and their longterm success, even with paving above).
The skeleton on which the spatial layout hangs is a striking water Rill/Cycle Way/Spine Path route on the Abercrombie north-south axis, supplying a complete uninterrupted vista towards the Hoe; this is flanked by human scale lawn parterres, new rich flora urban meadows, performance spaces, civic places spilling out from the eateries either side, play areas for various ages and water play fountain (by OCMIS) for all ages! Surface water is gathered via gravity into linear Raingardens, captured for tree irrigation, filtered by water plants in Reed beds. Cor Ten cladding contrasts with floriferous groundcover herbaceous perennial planting, to bring joy & colour.
Aimed at revitalising the CBD these new spaces are already proving popular with public, with more usable and stimulating public spaces, safe environments to enjoy.
Status
completed 2026
Location
Plymouth City Centre
Category
public
