James Brent's £83million Plymouth Pavilions deal is signed
ARGYLE boss James Brent has signed a contract to take over the Plymouth Pavilions from the city council.
The deal will see an £83million investment bringing homes, an hotel and an extended Arena to the landmark city centre site.
Signing the deal with council leader Tudor Evans yesterday, Mr Brent, chairman of the Akkeron Group, also revealed that he expects to bring forward plans for a new ice rink at Home Park next Spring.
The 1,500-seater venue will be on the car park next to the Argyle stadium and will have an "international standard" ice rink.
no call out fee and no fee to price a job its free,
Contact: 01752 781832
Valid until: Sunday, June 02 2013
Mr Brent said he had no plans to start a professional ice hockey team for the city but would welcome proposals by someone else.
The existing rink and arena facilities are expected to transfer to FDL in October this year and Mr Brent has agreed to keep the Pavilions rink operating until the new venue opens.
He will develop the Pavilions site through his Five Directions Ltd company, which will refurbish the Arena, re-clad the building and create a new foyer.
Mr Brent said that developing the two sites would cost £130million to £150million. He plans to build two or three new hotels providing up to 350 beds.
The new-look Pavilions site will include residential and retail development.
Part of the scheme will be a boulevard linking Millbay and the city centre. The road will run on the east side of the Pavilions, instead of going along Bath Street as proposed in the English Cities Fund masterplan.
Cllr Evans said he was pleased to see a new era at the Pavilions. "These are hugely exciting plans and they will provide one of the biggest investments in Plymouth for years.
"This is a particularly exciting plan given the tough economic climate and will provide a welcome boost to the local economy."
Mr Brent said the new developments would generate an estimated 1,500 construction jobs and then 1,000 full-time jobs.
Comments
by Kay2012
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 2:00PM
“That's a good point Whinger, I didn't know there was another car park.”
by ChezGuevara
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 1:47PM
“Perhaps Argyle can start an Ice skaing team and hope that they play better Ice Hockey than football.”
by whinger7643
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 1:43PM
“Kay2012, i would think that the car park referred to is the one owned by PAFC behind the grandstand on the south side of the ground, not the council owned park & ride.”
by WotsaWonder
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 1:26PM
“whats the matter with some of you ***, Mr brent will become a plymouth legend!!”
by Kay2012
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 12:32PM
“No-one seems to have noticed this little snippet: 'The 1,500-seater venue will be on the car park next to the Argyle stadium . .' So where will the lost parking spaces go? This car park gets packed every time there is a home match, and it is also heavily used as a park & ride car-park. Combine this with yesterday's announcement that a bus lane was to be introduced onto Outland Road (thereby creating traffic jams in the one remaining car lane) and this could become a vehicular nightmare with drivers having to both park and take short-cuts through nearby residential roads.”
by londonjanner
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 11:19AM
“I agree with Plym_87, it would be good to see a better representation of how this is going to look. I love that the Pavillions is having investment but don't want to see another cheap looking building, investment in Plymouth is great but we should really focus on building great buildings that last.
Also the whole plan will be flawed if they don't sort out the acoustics in the Arena. Every band i have ever seen in Plymouth Pavillions has sounded awful. Surely this is essential to get right.
Overall though this seems like a positive, are there any timeframes as to when this will be started? There is a lot of news about new building work on this website but many of the projects seem to stall and stay as building sites, Oceanique, Millbay, BBC in sutton harbour for example.”
by FOXFAN99
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 8:43PM
“James Brent is trying to do positive things for Plymouth. He helped save the football club and now he wants to invest money in the Pavilions. This is great news.
However there are some people out there who do nothing but complain about EVERYTHING.
Ok the city isnt perfect I grant you, but the man wants to invest money into a project and you all still complain.
If Plymouth is that bad then why do you actually live in the city?”
by Plym_87
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 6:36PM
“Don't get me wrong, I am all for new investment, new projects and development, especially in a part of town that has been neglected for too many years.
The only question I have, is in regards to the quality of the development. Some people may say 'any development is better than no development at all', but people must not be blinded by this.
Looking at the elevations (above), the architecture is questionable, as is the quality of the space. This could be a fantastic new space for the city, if its done right! Theres been too many cheap developments over the years, down to no fault but the planners and the council. Plymouth really should start promoting better architecture and better space's, such as cities like bristol, that achieve this so well.
Stuart.”
by BillyBall
Monday, June 18 2012, 12:08PM
“Probably another MCualey/ Drakes Island moment.....
Trudors back alright....”
by newplymouth
Monday, June 18 2012, 9:09AM
“Well said Janner 89
Mr Brent is doing great things for Plymouth IMHO it's good that he is not put off by some of the Whingers who never can see the Positive side of Plymouth.
How can we expect to attract new investment and jobs when some in Plymouth are for ever moaning
PS I hope Mr Brent can do something also about Union St which is a complete disgrace to PLymouth!”