Plymouth Development Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Plymouth Development Corporation (or PDC) was an urban development corporation
established in Plymouth
, Devon
, England by the UK Government
on 1 April 1993 to "secure the physical, environmental, economic and social regeneration" of surplus parts of the Ministry of Defence's
estate and some adjoining land. It had an indicative budget of £45 million and a lifetime of five years. Although subject to criticism for financial irregularities, it laid the foundation for improvements that continued for several years after it was wound up.
, a former Flag Officer at Plymouth
, with deputy John Ingham, leader of Plymouth City Council.
, including the Royal William Victualling Yard
(31 hectares); the nearby Mount Wise area (5 hectares); and Mount Batten
on the other side of Plymouth Sound
(31 hectares). MoD land at all three sites was transferred to the PDC.
The Royal William Victualling Yard was built in the early 19th century and is one of the country's most architecturally significant groups of maritime buildings, all Grade I listed. Development of the Yard was the single largest aspect of the corporation's remit, and the improvement of its poor road access was also important, as was the provision of sufficient car parking. Much of the Mount Wise site was derelict and was considered to be ideal for light industrial, commercial and residential development, the latter helped by its fine views across the River Tamar
to Mount Edgcumbe Country Park
. The Mount Batten site had been used by the Royal Air Force
until 1992, and although a large part was already designated as a scheduled monument, opportunity was seen for some residential and leisure development.
. He was suspended from his post in June 1995—and he resigned in September—after it was reported by the Public Accounts Committee that he had spent over £9,000 of the corporation's money on his own private expenses during visits abroad, though he did repay the money.
The committee also censured the corporation for "poor stewardship of public funds" and said that it had "lost control over the expenditure of public funds". However one of the companies that had been criticised by the Public Accounts Committee complained that its report contained errors and not all the evidence had not been considered. Following this, the National Audit Office
, which had provided much of the evidence for the report, admitted that some of the involved parties had not been spoken to directly. Following a spell during which David Woodhall was acting chief executive, Collinson was formally replaced in early 1996 by Geoff Timbrell who had been the head of property at the London Docklands Development Corporation
.
was reporting that the PDC had made little real progress. A year later the corporation announced that MEPC plc
, at the time the country's third largest property development company, had submitted a planning proposal for the Royal William Yard to include a 120,000 sq ft factory outlet retail centre based on its successful Clarks Village
in Somerset. Expected to be completed in three years, the project was anticipated to create 500 new jobs and attract over 2 million visitors in its first year, boosting the city's economy by £40m. However English Heritage
criticised the plans as being "fundamentally in conflict with the character of the architecture", and MEPC pulled out of the deal in September 1998. Although several proposals were made by other companies, none had come to fruition by 2000.
After the PDC was dissolved in 1998, the National Audit Office reported that during its lifetime it had built 11900 m² (128,090.5 sq ft) of commercial floor space and 99 homes. Private sector finance amounting to £8m had been leveraged in and 427 new jobs created. About 3 miles (4.8 km) of new road and footpaths were put in place. A local newspaper reported that at the Royal William Yard the PDC had installed or reinstalled all main services, including telephone and data. It had also restored the swing bridge and refurbished the Brewhouse, and improved the road access to the yard. Following the winding-up of the corporation, responsibility for the Royal William Victualling Yard devolved to the South West of England Regional Development Agency.
At Mount Batten, the corporation built an access road costing £2m and redeveloped the headland with car parking, a safe public space with toilet facilities and an amphitheatre. The company responsible for much of the work reported that the former use of the site as a Royal Air Force station and flying boat base
had caused considerable ground pollution which necessitated extensive decontamination works before construction could begin.
The expenditure at Mount Wise included around £5 million (including £3.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund) to improve the waterfront, refurbish the salt water swimming pools and develop the urban park, which included the construction of a landmark feature with a 40m high mast and viewing platform, as well as the conservation of the park's historic redoubt and Scott Memorial. Most of this work was complete by 2000.
In 2000, Plymouth City Council's Archaeology Unit published the results of the archaeological and historical investigations and recording programmes that had taken place alongside the regeneration works.
Development Corporation
In England and Wales, Development Corporations are bodies set up by the UK government and charged with the urban development of an area, outside the usual system of Town and Country Planning in the United Kingdom...
established in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England by the UK Government
Government of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Government is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining Ministers...
on 1 April 1993 to "secure the physical, environmental, economic and social regeneration" of surplus parts of the Ministry of Defence's
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
estate and some adjoining land. It had an indicative budget of £45 million and a lifetime of five years. Although subject to criticism for financial irregularities, it laid the foundation for improvements that continued for several years after it was wound up.
Formation
The PDC was given an indicative budget of £45 million to be spent over its proposed five year lifetime; in 1994 its corporate plan stated that it had the potential to create over 1,300 new jobs and lever in private sector finance of some £50 million. It was the twelfth development corporation to be set up in the country, and it was created after the dockyard, the traditional major employer in the city of Plymouth, had reduced its workforce from 30,000 to 5,000, resulting in an unemployment rate of 14% in the city. The chairman was Vice-Admiral Sir Robert GerkenRobert Gerken
Vice Admiral Sir Robert William Frank Gerken KCB CBE is a former Royal Navy officer who became Flag Officer, Plymouth.-Naval career:...
, a former Flag Officer at Plymouth
Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth
The Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth was a senior commander of the Royal Navy for hundreds of years. Plymouth Command was a name given to the units, establishments, and staff operating under the admiral's command. In the nineteenth century the holder of the office was known as Commander-in-Chief,...
, with deputy John Ingham, leader of Plymouth City Council.
The sites and plans
Three sites were designated and they were all on the waterfront. They were: part of StonehouseStonehouse, Plymouth
East Stonehouse is one of three towns that were amalgamated into modern-day Plymouth. West Stonehouse was a village that is within the current Mount Edgcumbe Country Park in Cornwall...
, including the Royal William Victualling Yard
Royal William Victualling Yard
The Royal William Victualling Yard, in Stonehouse, a suburb of Plymouth, England, was the major victualling depot of the Royal Navy and an important adjunct of Devonport Dockyard. It was designed by the architect Sir John Rennie and was named after King William IV...
(31 hectares); the nearby Mount Wise area (5 hectares); and Mount Batten
Mount Batten
Mount Batten is a 24-metre-tall outcrop of rock on a 600-metre peninsula in Plymouth Sound, Devon, England.After some redevelopment which started with the area coming under the control of the Plymouth Development Corporation for five years from 1993, the peninsula now has a marina and centre for...
on the other side of Plymouth Sound
Plymouth Sound
Plymouth Sound, or locally just The Sound, is a bay at Plymouth in England.Its southwest and southeast corners are Penlee Point in Cornwall and Wembury Point on Devon, a distance of about 3 nautical miles . Its northern limit is Plymouth Hoe giving a north-south distance of nearly 3 nautical miles...
(31 hectares). MoD land at all three sites was transferred to the PDC.
The Royal William Victualling Yard was built in the early 19th century and is one of the country's most architecturally significant groups of maritime buildings, all Grade I listed. Development of the Yard was the single largest aspect of the corporation's remit, and the improvement of its poor road access was also important, as was the provision of sufficient car parking. Much of the Mount Wise site was derelict and was considered to be ideal for light industrial, commercial and residential development, the latter helped by its fine views across the River Tamar
River Tamar
The Tamar is a river in South West England, that forms most of the border between Devon and Cornwall . It is one of several British rivers whose ancient name is assumed to be derived from a prehistoric river word apparently meaning "dark flowing" and which it shares with the River Thames.The...
to Mount Edgcumbe Country Park
Mount Edgcumbe Country Park
Mount Edgcumbe Country Park is one of four designated Country Parks in Cornwall. It is situated on the Rame Peninsula, overlooking Plymouth Sound and the River Tamar....
. The Mount Batten site had been used by the Royal Air Force
RAF Mount Batten
RAF Mount Batten was a Royal Air Force station and flying boat base at Mount Batten, a peninsula in Plymouth Sound, Devon. England. Originally a seaplane station opened in 1917 as a Royal Navy Air Service Station Cattewater it became RAF Cattewater in 1918 and in 1928 was re-named RAF Mount Batten...
until 1992, and although a large part was already designated as a scheduled monument, opportunity was seen for some residential and leisure development.
Financial irregularities
The chief executive of the PDC was John Collinson, former property director of the Black Country Development CorporationBlack Country Development Corporation
The Black Country Development Corporation was established in May 1987 to develop land in the Metropolitan Boroughs of Sandwell and Walsall.Its flagship developments included the Black Country Spine Road. During its lifetime 11.9m sq.ft. of non-housing development and 3,774 housing units were built....
. He was suspended from his post in June 1995—and he resigned in September—after it was reported by the Public Accounts Committee that he had spent over £9,000 of the corporation's money on his own private expenses during visits abroad, though he did repay the money.
The committee also censured the corporation for "poor stewardship of public funds" and said that it had "lost control over the expenditure of public funds". However one of the companies that had been criticised by the Public Accounts Committee complained that its report contained errors and not all the evidence had not been considered. Following this, the National Audit Office
National Audit Office
National Audit Office can refer to:* Australian National Audit Office* National Audit Office * National Audit Office of the People's Republic of China* Swedish National Audit Office...
, which had provided much of the evidence for the report, admitted that some of the involved parties had not been spoken to directly. Following a spell during which David Woodhall was acting chief executive, Collinson was formally replaced in early 1996 by Geoff Timbrell who had been the head of property at the London Docklands Development Corporation
London Docklands Development Corporation
The London Docklands Development Corporation was a quango agency set up by the UK Government in 1981 to regenerate the depressed Docklands area of east London. During its eighteen-year existence it was responsible for regenerating an area of in the London Boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and...
.
Results
By October 1996, The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
was reporting that the PDC had made little real progress. A year later the corporation announced that MEPC plc
MEPC plc
MEPC plc is a leading British-based property investment and development business. It is headquartered in London. It used to be listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
, at the time the country's third largest property development company, had submitted a planning proposal for the Royal William Yard to include a 120,000 sq ft factory outlet retail centre based on its successful Clarks Village
Clarks Village
Clarks Village is a designer outlet shopping complex at Street in the English county of Somerset. The centre includes more than 90 shops. There are also coffee shops, refreshment stalls and a dining area shared by fast food chains , mostly selling goods at a discount to high street prices.It is...
in Somerset. Expected to be completed in three years, the project was anticipated to create 500 new jobs and attract over 2 million visitors in its first year, boosting the city's economy by £40m. However English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
criticised the plans as being "fundamentally in conflict with the character of the architecture", and MEPC pulled out of the deal in September 1998. Although several proposals were made by other companies, none had come to fruition by 2000.
After the PDC was dissolved in 1998, the National Audit Office reported that during its lifetime it had built 11900 m² (128,090.5 sq ft) of commercial floor space and 99 homes. Private sector finance amounting to £8m had been leveraged in and 427 new jobs created. About 3 miles (4.8 km) of new road and footpaths were put in place. A local newspaper reported that at the Royal William Yard the PDC had installed or reinstalled all main services, including telephone and data. It had also restored the swing bridge and refurbished the Brewhouse, and improved the road access to the yard. Following the winding-up of the corporation, responsibility for the Royal William Victualling Yard devolved to the South West of England Regional Development Agency.
At Mount Batten, the corporation built an access road costing £2m and redeveloped the headland with car parking, a safe public space with toilet facilities and an amphitheatre. The company responsible for much of the work reported that the former use of the site as a Royal Air Force station and flying boat base
RAF Mount Batten
RAF Mount Batten was a Royal Air Force station and flying boat base at Mount Batten, a peninsula in Plymouth Sound, Devon. England. Originally a seaplane station opened in 1917 as a Royal Navy Air Service Station Cattewater it became RAF Cattewater in 1918 and in 1928 was re-named RAF Mount Batten...
had caused considerable ground pollution which necessitated extensive decontamination works before construction could begin.
The expenditure at Mount Wise included around £5 million (including £3.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund) to improve the waterfront, refurbish the salt water swimming pools and develop the urban park, which included the construction of a landmark feature with a 40m high mast and viewing platform, as well as the conservation of the park's historic redoubt and Scott Memorial. Most of this work was complete by 2000.
In 2000, Plymouth City Council's Archaeology Unit published the results of the archaeological and historical investigations and recording programmes that had taken place alongside the regeneration works.