City sees start of 'one of the biggest' play areas

New climbing frames will be part of the forest section

Work to create "one of the biggest city centre play areas in the country" has started, a council has said.

In July, the first part of Plymouth's Armada Way regeneration project opened to the public.

The city centre scheme has been the subject of debate after more than 100 trees were felled in March 2023.

Councillor Mark Lowry said Plymouth City Council wanted the play village to be "a destination in its own right".

He said: "The High Street has changed dramatically - online shopping is here to stay but we still want our city centre to be alive and buzzing with people.

"This regeneration programme is about bringing people back into the city centre - not just to shop but to play and to meet up."

Plymouth City Council said the play area would stretch from the corner close to Mayflower Street down the east side of Armada Way to Barclay's.

The council said the play village was split into themed zones including desert, mountain, aquatic, forest and grassland areas to encourage children to "use their imagination".

Lowry said: "It's going to be a fun and fantastic place for kids, but this is about more than play - if people spent £5 on a coffee and cake watching their children, that's money going into our businesses.

"Kids playing there after school means there's more people out and about in the city centre, it feels safer and busier."