First part of Armada Way tree-felling site opens

Council leader Tudor Evans and cabinet member Mark Lowry opened the first completed phase

The first section of a highly controversial city centre regeneration project has opened.

The Armada Way scheme in Plymouth has been the subject of debate since more than 100 trees were felled by the Conservative-run Plymouth City Council as part of the works in March 2023.

The decision to cut down the trees at night cost more than £3.3m, a report found.

When Labour regained control of the council in May 2023 it developed a new scheme at a cost of £30m - more than twice that of the original.

Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans said it was time to start looking forward

The council said the area around the Phoenix Fountain and the new amphitheatre and performance space were now open.

It added that 29 trees had been planted and 400 specimens of plant will be put in, along with two beds of wildflower turf.

Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans said the opening "gives a sense of the quality that's going to be in this new Armada Way project".

"Some of the trees we've planted now are older than some of the ones that were taken down," he said.

"We now need to start moving forward instead of looking back."