Plymouth communities to receive major investment through Pride in Place programme

Devonport, Mount Wise, Morice Town and St Budeaux have been awarded significant government funding as part of the national Pride in Place Programme, aimed at driving regeneration and restoring pride in local neighbourhoods.

The initiative will see up to £20 million invested in each area over the next decade to revitalise high streets, restore derelict pubs and shops, and create new spaces for young people and families. The programme, announced by the Prime Minister, forms part of a historic package for more than 330 communities across the UK.

As part of the scheme, each neighbourhood will form a Neighbourhood Board made up of residents, councillors, businesses and community organisations. These boards will shape a 10-year Regeneration Plan, ensuring local voices and priorities are central to decision-making.

Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of Plymouth City Council, welcomed the announcement, saying:
“This is brilliant news for Plymouth. We are absolutely delighted that Devonport, Mount Wise, Morice Town and St Budeaux have been chosen to be part of the Pride in Place Programme. Something, I know our local MPs have lobbied for, for some time. These are proud communities with rich histories and huge potential. This investment will help unlock that potential and support meaningful improvements in the places people live, work and spend time.

“This announcement fits perfectly with our wider strategic ambitions for Plymouth. From our work to strengthen community engagement and participation through the local government reorganisation process to our ambitious regeneration plans for the city centre and waterfront, we are building a future that is inclusive, ambitious and locally focused.

“We look forward to working closely with the Government and our local communities to make sure this funding delivers real, lasting change for the people of Plymouth.”

Alongside the wider programme, Devonport and Mount Wise will receive £2 million a year for local projects over the next decade, secured by Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard.

Mr Pollard said the £20 million cash boost would be a “gamechanger,” putting “residents in the driving seat” to decide how the money is spent. He added:
“I’m thrilled to have secured this funding for Devonport, after working with Housing Secretary Steve Reed to get it over the line.

“Labour governments always invest in Devonport. We are delivering massive investment in the dockyard, housebuilding and now £20 million extra for local projects to revitalise the community.

“The best thing about this new money is that it will be local residents in the driving seat to decide how every penny is spent.”

The programme also gives communities new powers to seize boarded-up shops, save derelict pubs, and block gambling and vape shops from opening on their high streets.

Councillor for Devonport, Bill Stevens, said:
"We all know Devonport and Mount Wise are great places to live, but there are always challenges. That's why I'm really excited about this huge investment in our patch. Without doubt, it's a massive vote of confidence for our area and everyone who lives here".

Housing Secretary Steve Reed MP added:
“£20 million is coming to Devonport thanks to your MP, Luke Pollard. That’s a huge amount of money that will make a huge difference to the area, and it is local people who will decide how every single penny of it gets spent. That’s the difference a Labour MP and government make.”

Local MP, Fred Thomas, also secured £2million a year for ten years, for people living in St Budeaux.

As part of the new Plan for Neighbourhoods fund, St Budeaux is one of the 90 areas across the country selected to pioneer a new way of deciding how to spend public money on local projects. The money can be spent on anything from local park improvements to fixing up empty buildings and high streets, but it is up to the residents to decide what to do.

The fund will rely on local residents in St Budeaux coming together to submit ideas for how to spend the £20million total and a call will be going out for people to volunteer to sit on a local board that helps coordinate the project.

MP for Plymouth Moor View, Fred Thomas, said: “I couldn’t be more delighted for the people of St Budeaux. £20 million across the next decade for this community is an incredible amount of money that could transform the area.

“The fact that the community will decide how this money is spent represents an enormous transfer of power from Whitehall to our local communities.

“This Labour government recognises that people in St Budeaux know their area better than anyone else, and that’s why we are being allowed to take these big decisions for ourselves.

“We have brilliant community leaders in St Budeaux, and I am really excited to see who comes forward to sit on the board that will decide where this money is spent.”

The Council will now begin engaging residents, businesses and community organisations to develop Regeneration Plans tailored to each neighbourhood.