“There isn't very may buildings in South Yard that are worth preserving. SY isn't another Royal William Yard to those who have never had the opportunity to visit the area. YES work sensibly with English Heritage to save and preserve the important stuff but move on and help PYI not hinder them. They are one of a very few number of private sector employers in the city. We should be doing everything to help them. Not only would this be a benefit to them it would be ideal for other small business to start up and expand whilst opening up a once hidden area of the city back to its population.

Maybe PCC would be happier if PYI relocated to another part of the country ?”

“It is not a surprise, but nevertheless hugely disappointing, that Princess Yacht's plans to utilise the Ropery and other listed buildings in South Yard have been thwarted by English Heritage. The trick now will be to find a compromise solution which satisfies both Princess Yacht's future business needs and English Heritage's overly stringent preservation requirements. Failure to achieve this will not only result in the loss of job and business opportunities for the City, but will also see some fine and unique historic buildings continue to languish unused and costing the MOD, thus we the taxpayers, considerable financial resource in order to maintain these buildings.
Those readers with a serious interest in promoting Plymouth's rich, but unexploited, maritime heritage and its 300 year relationship with the Royal Navy will know that I continue my endeavours to persuade the MOD, PCC and other stakeholders to establish a Plymouth Maritime Visitor Attraction. Something which offers Plymouth's residents and visitors a range of attractions and interests from naval and wider maritime heritage; to visits to warships, the Naval base and a nuclear submarine; to meeting today's sailors; boat trips; hands on modern technology for the kids and much,much more besides.
Whilst the current economic climate could hardly be worse for delivering such aspirations and presents a daunting challenge for this Project, an incremental approach to its development is feasible. But only feasible and deliverable given the will, energy and vision of all the stakeholders. Job opportunities, not only generated by Princess Yachts, and an all embracing Maritme Visitor Attraction which underpins Plymouth's hitherto lack lustre Tourism Strategy must be essential goals for this City at a time of few other realistic business, job creating opportunities.
One obvious step in the process would be for PCC, the MOD, the RDA, English Heritage, Princess Yachts and other stakeholders to sit around the same table and arrive at a viable option for the future use of the buildings in question. A solution which meets Princess Yacht's requirements and also provides a permanent home, as an adjunct to the City's Museum, for the valuable collection of naval artefacts and items which, under current plans, could be lost to Plymouth, or remain in storage and never see the light of day.
Whether you are an out and out heritage anorack or a hard nosed businessman, there is a solution here for the taking which has the potential to satisfy all.”

“Wake up PCC,Plymouth is dying on it's feet and needs to look to the future as well as to the past.The city badly needs more manufacturing jobs and more private sector jobs....more jobs full stop.No point protecting our heritage if we don't have a future.Princess Yachts can and will move if they can't expand here and there must be ways of protecting the heritage sites with a bit of thought,not that the general public have any kind of regular access to them anyway.”

“lets see now ! the east ropery oh ye the spinning house & the south saw mills and do not forget the grade 2 listed gazebo with the lovely view northwards that no one has ever seen other than george the 3rd we should dig him up to ask what it is like.
Mr turner get your head out of the sand it is jobs we want not some run down buildings that no one will ever see.
And as for plymouth council do you want princess yachts to move to Portsmouth or southampton because thats what will happen they will wellcome them with open arms.
( IT IS JOBS WE WANT NOT OLD BUILDINGS PCC )”

“Plymouth has to move forward, and also i agree with Ricky (comment below)! The civic centre is barely standing and its been allowed to stay, The NAAFI building on Notte Street has already been partly demolished and is now being held back. Many of these buildings are unaffordable to keep and not structurally safe. Every building becomes a heritage, and this building would earn its own heritage as it could be the "biggest building in Plymouths history!" I would urge the city council to accept!”

“Surely what Plymouth needs at the moment is jobs? This is exactly what Princess Yachts are offering with this development.”

“Sid Anning, Crownhill.IF you and the rest of the "preservationists" we are constantly constrained by could take off your rear facing blinkers for just a few moments, you may realise that you have the chance to be part of history in the making. Wouldn't that be more constructive and satisfying than trying to preserve EVERY ramshackle eyesore that has outlived its purpose? (And that most Plymothians are unaware of or indeed have absolutely no access to.)
This project must get the green light to ensure some sort of history for our grandchildren.
Plymouth is dying on its feet and Princess Yachts INTERNATIONAL is trying to pump some life into this once thriving dockyard city. Get real, people. If this bid fails large companies will take heed and will be more likely to base their operations abroad (eastern Europe etc).
Last person out of Plymouth, please extinguish the lantern.

Phoenix. (Ex Princess employee.)”

“Plymouth City Council has a nerve, here's a company will to bring work into the city and they want to turn them down because of buildings and yet Plymouth University wants to demolish the Nafi and put up some monstrosity of an accommodation totally ruining Plymouth Hoe, I am beginning to wonder who has fingers in what, as Plymouth University practically runs Plymouth City Council from where I am looking, how was it they got Planning consent so easily, quite frankly something is not quite right with in the Plymouth City Planning Department”

“If they can squeeze a transit Gypsy site somewhere between the new sheds then it's a goer....maybe the council will help fund it!!”

“What did happen to the proposed building at Millbay docks for Princess Yachts?”