Plymouth: A £50m skyscraper is planned to be the city's tallest building

Developers started working on plans for the Shepherds Wharf tower, a £50m skyscraper that will be constructed on Plymouth's waterfront. The tower, standing at a height of 30 stories, is going to become the tallest structure in the city of Devon, seven floors higher than the Beckley Point student flats.

The proposed design encompasses a 10-story rectangular apartment building adjacent to the skyscraper. Together, these two residential buildings will house a total of 200 flats, while the ground floor and mezzanine levels will feature restaurants, shops, and commercial spaces.

The Shepherds Wharf project is slated for a vacant piece of land in Sutton Harbour, situated next to the two Premier Inn hotels. The company responsible for this endeavor, Comcor (Shepherds Wharf) Ltd, has collaborated with city architects LHC Design to formulate the new blueprint. They have already secured the land through a purchasing agreement, pending planning approval. With the necessary funding secured, they have indicated that construction might commence before the end of 2025, provided that the approval is granted. The collaboration between Comcor and Plymouth City Council is now focused on this proposal.

Mike Leech, the marketing manager at Comcor, outlined that the previous planning consent was for 23 stories while they intend to request permission to raise it to 30 stories and hence, it will be the tallest building in the southern region of England. Moreover, Amanda Sutherland, the director of planning consultancy Sutherland Property and Legal Services Ltd, elaborated that they have adopted a more contemporary approach in comparison with other local buildings while the tower will stand as a prominent landmark.

Anticipatedly, a formal planning submission will be put forth in spring 2024. Ms. Sutherland added that the focus now is on the planning process. However, they estimate that it will take 18 months to two years before construction commences on-site. She concluded that the project's development will also enhance the waterfront and contribute greatly to the city.