Labour and Co-operative MP for Plymouth Sutton, Linda Gilroy, today toured the new Devonport Guildhall to witness the ongoing transformation of this significant, yet previously underused, building. 

Thanks to a £1m Government Community Assets grant from The Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office, £500,000 of match funding from the Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership (DRCP) and in-kind support from Plymouth City Council, the Grade 1 listed building will open in early 2010.  The Guildhall will once again flourish and become one of the South West’s key hubs for business, media, education, social, cultural and community activities.

The transformation of the Devonport Guildhall is being led and managed by the Real Ideas Organisation (RIO) whose innovative philosophy of creative social enterprise is the key concept driving the strategic development of the site. Architects GHK, project managers The Gates Partnership and builders Devon Contractors are in the midst of creating the new facilities within the Guildhall, which will include flexible and hot-desking office space for up to 32 people, a hireable large hall space for music and theatre production, conferences and community events, and a café and restaurant area for indoor and outdoor dining.   A range of social enterprise, creative and young people-led programmes will also be based at the new Guildhall, and various transforming spin-off projects are already live as the build continues. 

Linda Gilroy said

“It is inspiring to witness the transformation of such a significant building which would otherwise have deteriorated into ruin and to see the power that the collaborative working is achieving here within this community.  Given the backdrop of the current economic crisis, I really believe that we are in the middle of a paradigm shift and social enterprises like the one being driven here at the Guildhall are set to come more and more to the fore of how we operate as a nation. The work being done here is setting a crucial example for others to follow and we’re looking forward to seeing the building completed and the community life and vitality flowing through it this coming new year.” 

Friday 5th June 2009