Former Land Registry building to be revamped
Residents will soon see a transformation of Plumer House, the former Land Registry office in Crownhill, according to Plymouth Community Homes.
The organisation says it will dramatically improve the building’s appearance with new cladding and open a customer services centre for tenants and leaseholders.
The construction is underway following planning consent in July, and is set to be completed by April 2014, when more than 500 Plymouth Community Homes staff will be based at the Tailyour Road site.
When the construction is completed in April 2014, more than 500 of our staff will be based at the Tailyour Road site.
Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) said:
"The project will deliver cost-savings by retaining major elements of the existing structure and reduce office expenditure by housing staff under one roof."
The development will provide:
- A new customer-focused reception area with three meeting rooms and an area for children to play
- An impressive new contact centre housing customer service staff
- Meeting rooms for community groups
- A brighter grey cladded exterior which appears similar to natural slate replacing the drab brown cladding
- Coloured vinyl fitting with the PCH brand placed over certain windows.
- A large new galvanised steel portico entrance with prominent signage welcoming visitors. The signs and portico are to be made at the PCH manufacturing sign shop in Prince Rock
- A new landscaped open space with seating sprucing up the entrance across from Farm Foods
- A new gym with exercise bikes, treadmills and rowing machines
Clive Turner, PCH Chief Executive, said:
“It is exciting to see the building work commence.
“We are focusing our money on ensuring a high quality space for our customers to come and visit.
“This also brings together many of our staff under one roof so we expect benefits for communications and dealing with customer queries.
“The purchase and refurbishment makes good economic sense saving the cost of renting office space in the city centre and Derriford.
“This is a great investment which provides great value for money for PCH and enables us to build on our success over the last four years.
“The external appearance will also improve dramatically with new cladding and landscaping.
“I hope the new offices help sustain local shops in Crownhill.”
The Plumer House was purchased for £2.85 million in February 2012 from the Land Registry, which moved out 18 months before.
Plumer House is not open to the public, but it will be in April 2014 when the work is finished.
The five-storey 80,000sq ft building is one of the largest workplaces in Plymouth.
The site has been used for a church, a magistrates’ court and a training camp for US soldiers during the Second World War.
After a tender process last summer architects Lacey Hickie and Caley (LHC), which employs more than 50 staff across studios in Royal William Yard, Plymouth, Exeter and Southampton, was appointed the project designer.
Founded in 1992, the company has designed a wide range of buildings in the City including the National Marine Aquarium and the refurbishment of Plymouth College of Art and Design.
Nigel Blackman, Plymouth-based director of LHC, said:
“Plumer House is one of Plymouth’s largest buildings. Our scheme will transform its appearance making it one of the most striking offices in the city.
“The outcome will be a revitalized and refreshed building that provides a customer focused service reception for PCH’s tenants and business partners.
“By retaining or repairing the major elements of Plumer House that still have a viable lifespan, replacing those that are life expired and upgrading the building’s exterior, a highly sustainable refurbishment has been developed.
“Throughout the project, we have enjoyed working with both staff and the project steering group. It has been an interesting journey but as we start on site, PCH’s vision and resolve to create quality facilities for customers and staff is as strong as the day we started.”
Interserve Construction Ltd, based in Royal William Yard, will work on the refurbishment and the Bailey Partnership, of the Millfields, will oversee the move programme of staff.
