Developer chosen for landmark Plymouth Civic Centre housing project
A developer known for restoring historic buildings has been chosen to deliver 144 rental homes inside Plymouth’s Grade II listed Civic Centre tower as regeneration plans move forward
A property developer described as having “a strong reputation for making historic buildings come alive” has been chosen to create 144 rental homes inside Plymouth’s Civic Centre tower.
Manchester-based Capital&Centric was announced as the preferred developer at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds on May 20.
The event, which brought together property professionals, investors and developers from across the UK, saw Plymouth representatives attend to promote regeneration and investment opportunities in the city.
Plymouth’s Grade II listed Civic Centre is set for major redevelopment, with plans also including a Blue Green Skills Hub for City College Plymouth on the lower floors.
A full planning application for the scheme was submitted in March, while initial work to remove cladding from the building is expected to begin in summer 2026.
Capital&Centric will lead the residential redevelopment of the 14-storey tower, with the homes managed through its rental company, Ollo.
Councillor Mark Lowry, Plymouth City Centre Champion, said the project would introduce a new type of housing to the city centre.
“This is an exciting new direction for Plymouth’s housing market. These will be high-quality units built to rent, something which is not currently available here,” he said.
“They are specifically targeting people who want a quality experience in an iconic location close to places of work, learning, culture and the waterfront.”
He added: “This company has a history of tackling tricky buildings, helping people to fall back in love with them and breathe life into them.”
John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said the company wanted to preserve the building’s character while creating modern homes.
“Plymouth is a city with serious ambition, and the Civic Centre is the kind of project we love getting stuck into,” he said.
“It’s a building that means something to people; you can’t walk past it without noticing it. Now we’re taking on the challenge of giving it a future that lives up to that.”
The Civic Centre project previously secured £18.4 million in funding from Homes England. As part of the funding agreement, the council was required to appoint a housing developer with experience delivering large regeneration projects.
Plymouth City Council has agreed to enter into an agreement for lease with Capital&Centric for the Civic Centre site, including land next to the Council House and part of the Council House car park.
Under the proposed arrangement, the council will retain the freehold of the building. Capital&Centric will take responsibility for the residential section under a 199-year lease, while City College Plymouth will manage the education space through a separate lease agreement.