Why public toilets have closed during Plymouth’s Armada Way revamp

Public toilets in a city centre have been closed until spring to allow for the final phase of regeneration works.

Plymouth City Council said the temporary closure was part of the final phase of the £30m Armada Way redevelopment.

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The authority said the facilities on Armada Way and at the Sundial would be out of bounds while pipes were laid to take pressure off the ageing sewer system as part of a sustainable urban drainage system.

It said the temporary closure would also enable contractors to install filtration and control systems for the Armada Way water features.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that signs were being put up directing people to alternative public toilets at Plymouth Market and Drake Circus.

The council fenced off the area in October 2025 to investigate the extent of live utilities beneath the surface and assess ground conditions.

The regeneration of Armada Way began last October, with 62 per cent of the funding coming from external sources, including government grants, and the work is said to be on time and on budget.

As part of the new urban park, an amphitheatre and fountain area have opened, alongside new green spaces, gardens, wildlife areas and picnic spaces. 

The project also includes more than 200 trees, new cycle paths, a large play area and a range of water features.

The council said the current sewer system was not designed to deal with the demands of modern plumbing in residential and commercial properties, either now or in the future.

The new Armada Way toilets will be renovated, and the whole project is set to open in the summer, the council added.