I live in one of UK’s ‘most deprived’ cities — centre looks like a building site

As cities and towns face challenges, many are undergoing changes — and the place I live in is no exception. I live in Plymouth, a sea-fringed city where parts of the centre are officially ranked among the most deprived neighbourhoods in England. Right now, it’s at the heart of a £29million transformation.

The new look for Plymouth city centre began with a high degree national outrage when more than 100 mature trees were felled in 2023.Now, three years later, the renovation of Armada Way (the main street that cuts through the city centre) is well underway — and the final new look is set to be unveiled later this year. It has been something of a rollercoaster for locals.

Many, myself included, were gutted to see 110 mature trees cut down — a moment some described as “heartbreaking”. Since then, opinion has remained divided. Some residents told me the £29million price tag feels steep, particularly as parts of the city struggle with housing shortages and shop closures. Others believe the investment is exactly what Plymouth needs if it is to thrive again.

The felling of these mature trees occurred under a decision by the Conservative Council at the time – and the chop occurred in the middle of the night, which Labour MP, Luke Pollard described as a “disastrous” way of going about it. 

At the time, the unfolding tree felling led to Plymouth’s Tory council leader Richard Bingley quitting his position – and STRAW Plymouth (Save the Trees Of Armada Way) campaigned against the tree chopping, winning a court injunction to stop the work.

Many Plymouth residents were left alarmed, upset and shocked to see their beloved town ripped apart, however many have also supported the revamp and now, new trees have been planted with plenty more to come.

But in 2023, when I surveyed the scene at the time, it seemed somewhat unbelievable, many birds found themselves displaced (it was early spring, so some would probably have been nesting).

Now, three years later, it’s fair to say that much of the city centre currently still looks like a building site. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel — and workers on site are grafting away every day and they always have a smile on their faces.

However, some Plymouth residents told me the cost of the Armada Way revamp seems like “a lot of money”, while others hope the new look will help Plymouth to thrive. No matter what view locals hold, they all seem to agree that they “cannot wait until it’s finally completed”.

Plymouth resident Neil Rawlins told me his feelings on the revamp: “I’m all for it, I’ve travelled around the country and I’ve seen other city centres and what they’re like.

“So the more they can make Plymouth city centre thrive, the better. They are replacing the trees now, so why not. My only issue is why don’t they do it section by section, so it’s not like one big building site.”

Aimee Wordan shared her thoughts on Armada Way with me: “It’s been going on a long time, I’m excited to see it, but it seems like a lot of money for not a lot of change so far, however, I could be wrong.”

Supporters of the regeneration say the project is about more than just paving stones and planting schemes. They argue it forms part of a wider effort to revitalise a city centre that ranks among the most deprived areas in England.

Toufik Benaceur said that he’s lived in Plymouth for over 30 years and he’s “seen huge changes”.

Commenting on Armada Way he told me: “It’s taking ages, it’s chaos, driving everywhere in the area is chaos. What difference will it make? I don’t know, what we need is more houses, jobs, but some of the shops are closing.”

According to the latest Index of Multiple Deprivation data, parts of Plymouth city centre fall within the most deprived neighbourhoods nationally. One specific area — Plymouth 027C, which includes the city centre — is ranked 3,334 out of 33,755 neighbourhoods in England, meaning only 10% of neighbourhoods are considered more deprived.

A 2023 report published by Plymouth City Council also states that the city centre population experiences the highest levels of deprivation in the city and falls within the top 1% most deprived areas nationally. That ranking refers to specific small neighbourhood areas rather than the whole city, as deprivation levels vary significantly across Plymouth’s 20 electoral wards.

In fact, while the city centre faces significant challenges, other parts of Plymouth — including sections of postcode PL3 — are considered less deprived than most neighbourhoods in England.

Plymouth City Council state: “Work is well underway to enhance Royal Parade and Armada Way, introducing greener, more accessible spaces. These projects have laid the foundations for a vibrant, modern city centre.

“However, housing has fallen behind. The city centre currently has only around 1,000 homes, compared to 8,000 in similar-sized cities. The City Living Framework will change that – introducing high-quality homes, mixed-use developments, and green spaces to create a thriving urban community.”