Devonport sets sights high with secured funding to restore column

The Real Ideas Organisation (RIO) has secured a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant of £685,000 to restore the iconic Devonport Column.

Part of an £800,000 funding package, the Grant will enable RIO to fully renovate and develop the Column to become a heritage and tourist destination, giving the public access to the top of the viewing platform for the first time in 50 years.

124 feet above street level, the viewing platform will command some of the best views across Plymouth, but it won’t be the only attraction at the site. Plans also include establishing a nature reserve, creating a rose garden and building a public plaza, framed with a two year strategy of marketing, training, learning and participation.

What’s more, in line with Devonport’s history as a hub for science and innovation, an integral part of the Column redevelopment scheme will be the introduction of new digital technologies and a wireless internet system into the Column. In partnership with Plymouth’s strong creative technology sector, this will allow the use of mobile-based games, augmented reality and interactive 3D building projections to bring heritage learning to new and wider audiences.

Kate Rowlands, Development Manager for RIO said “The exciting aspect of the project will be the Column’s ability to connect with people, literally.” “This project has come from the community, these hidden new technologies will help more people learn about and participate in their own heritage and help local residents find out what’s going on in the area.” “Therefore for daily doses of what’s going on in and around Devonport and to keep up with the restoration journey, be sure to follow twitter@DevonportColumn and find the Column on Facebook!”

RIO has been working in partnership with Plymouth City Council to develop the scheme and the redevelopment will partner an additional 19 partner organisations from across the city, including the University of Plymouth, Plymouth College of Art, the Museum as well local schools.

Using social enterprise approaches, the two year programme, will work and consult directly with over 3000 people, and it is predicted that once restored, the Column could attract an additional 12,000 visitors a year to the area.Nerys Watts, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said: “We at HLF are delighted to be able to support the repair and restoration of Devonport Column. Built to commemorate the establishment of Devonport, this important historic monument will now be fully preserved and re-opened so that visitors from near and far can once again climb the column and enjoy the fantastic views across the city.” The Column restoration project is the second phase of a wider regeneration programme led by RIO, which follows the award-winning redevelopment of the Devonport Guildhall as a social enterprise and cultural centre in 2010. Already established as a key business and cultural venue in the City, the Guildhall has served and supported the local community while bringing over 30,000 new visitors to Devonport in its first year.

Ed Whitelaw, Lead Developer for RIO says: “The clear and very significant public support for the scheme from organisations and individuals across the city has been key to the bid’s success. The Column is very much a symbol of the community and was built as a statement of Devonport’s confidence celebrating the establishment of port as an independent town in 1824. With the success of local regeneration and the new housing it is only right that the column is restored now. When we first began work on the Guildhall a group of local residents came and asked us what we were going to do about the Column. We’re glad to say after 18 months of hard work and with the support the HLF we now have an answer. Plymouth is an internationally significant heritage destination, fully realising this potential is key to the city’s future, the re-opening of the column will be an important further step in the process.”

The project will now enter a more detailed planning stage with LePage Architects with work due to begin on site in the new-year. It is planned that the project will be completed and open to the public by October 2012, in time for a Halloween celebration to remember.

Ends For more information about the Devonport Column plans please contact Ed Whitelaw: ed.whitelaw@realideas.org or 0845 8621228