Contract to be awarded for second phase of Oceansgate

16 Aug 2019

Oceansgate, the new home of marine enterprise in Plymouth and a key player in the city’s role as a maritime powerhouse, is taking another step forward with work on Phase 2 of the development starting shortly.

The contract for the construction of Oceansgate’s second phase is set to be awarded to Kier, following a delegated decision being signed off today (7 August) by Plymouth City Council.

Oceansgate has transformed disused MOD land in South Yard, Devonport, into a marine Enterprise Zone and thriving business development.

Council Leader Tudor Evans, said: “Oceansgate is a fantastic development, and one we’re really proud of. It’s bringing more jobs and more investment to Plymouth and cementing our status as a leading location for marine industry in the UK.

“It’s a unique offering for businesses, with such close proximity to Princess Yachts, the Dockyard and Babcock, as well as to the in- and on-water testing opportunities offered out by Smart Sound Plymouth, a new proving ground for developing cutting edge technologies.”

Phase 2 will see the creation of a new three storey office building and a further 15 light industrial units, which has the potential to create an additional 130 jobs. The buildings have been designed to be flexible, allowing for a range of sizes of industrial and office space, depending on businesses’ needs.

The development’s first phase was completed in April 2018 and is now a base for eight businesses, including the new Marine Business Technology Centre, as well as Lang & Potter Marine, international marine consultants MECAL and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Like Phase 1, the plans for Phase 2 include the use of natural building materials such as stone to ensure the development fits within its historic surroundings at South Yard.

The contract for constructing Phase 2 is worth £7.6 million. This second phase of Oceansgate has been funded by a £2.25 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and a Council loan.