Armada Way decision overturned by new council
The new leader says the felling of the trees has been 'hugely damaging'
Last updated 19th May 2023
The controversial Armada Way regeneration plans in Plymouth won't be going ahead.
The new leader of the city council's overturned the decision, which saw more than a hundred mature trees cut down overnight in March, before an injunction stopped the work.
Tudor Evans says other options are now being brought forward.
In a statement, he said, “I think we can all agree that the decision to fell the trees has been hugely damaging – not just to the council, but to the city and Plymouth’s growing reputation as a place that cares passionately about getting greener.
“There are many lessons we can learn from this sorry affair that has polarised opinion in Plymouth and about Plymouth.
“We need to move forward and make sure we get this right. In the first instance, we need to focus on cleaning up the current site and talking and listening to communities, businesses and key stakeholders in the coming weeks. It is time for the Council to take back control of this project.”
Next week the new Council leader and other senior politicians will have a walkabout of the Armada Way site and urgent meetings will be arranged with city business representatives.
The council says a ‘hit squad’ will be deployed to tackle the litter that has built up in the city centre around the site, while officers are currently liaising with the authority’s independent ecologist over next steps to clear the stumps of the felled trees, before looking at how and when the remaining felled trees can be removed, without damaging any birds nests, which may now be in the brush.