First tenant announced for Phase 2 of Oceansgate

31 Jul 2020

The first tenant for the second phase of Plymouth City Council’s Oceansgate development, which is on course to be completed in December, has been announced.

ESL Group is moving its Space and Defence Solutions (SDS) division to a new industrial unit at the city’s marine Enterprise Zone. Other divisions of the ESL Group will remain in their headquarters at Plymouth Science Park.

ESL SDS produces solutions for the defence, security and maritime industries and is developing a new product called EMprotect, which provides an emergency response and counter-terrorism functionality.

ESL Group Chairman, Russ Cole, said: “I am delighted to be taking a unit at Oceansgate which will be used by our Space and Defence Solutions division. From our HQ at Plymouth Science Park we are already establishing key relationships within the local defence sector and anticipate being further involved in the proposed Phase 3 innovation centre.”

Oceansgate has transformed disused Ministry of Defence land into a thriving hub for marine and maritime businesses.

Council Leader Tudor Evans said: “We’re delighted to welcome our first tenant to phase 2 of Oceansgate. We’re really proud of the development – it plays a key role in developing Plymouth’s status as the leading location for marine and maritime industries in the UK.

“It’s been an extraordinarily difficult year with challenges on a scale we have never seen before and we’re now beginning to implement our economic recovery plan, Resurgam. Oceansgate has an important role to play in this, creating jobs, attracting new businesses to our city and offering those that are already based here the opportunity to expand in an environment that has been designed with their needs in mind.”

Phase 2 of Oceansgate includes a new three storey office building and 15 light industrial units, adding to the mix of offices and industrial units built during the first phase.

The £7.6 million project has been funded by the Council and a £2.25 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The third phase of Oceansgate will see the development of existing docks, offering direct access to deep water for marine businesses.