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Friday 8 September
 A contract is to be awarded to ensure continued rapid progress on the city centre regeneration project in Old Town Street and New George Street.
The £1.6 million contract will enable work to continue on the scheme, which will deliver significant environmental improvements, including trees, new planting and a sustainable urban drainage system that includes rain gardens.
The project is a major public realm improvement to regenerate the tired and outdated public spaces and will see improved pedestrian and cycling connections between the city centre, Drake Circus and the Barcode, high quality natural stone paving and modern seating and street furniture.
The works have hit a number of delays due to issues resulting from digging beneath a city centre that was hastily rebuilt after the war but activity on site has now significantly increased. Rapid progress is now being made, particularly in phase one (outside House of Fraser), where the aim is to open up some areas in time for the Christmas lights switch-on.
 Ground-breaking projects to help vulnerable species flourish within our National Marine Park are being planned with the submission of a bid for funding.
The Plymouth Sound National Marine Park Horizons Project bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund could support the recovery of iconic species of Plymouth Sound such as thornback ray and spiny and short snouted seahorses.
Projects could also encourage wildfowl and wading birds on mudflats and expand ‘biogenic’ reefs that that store carbon, provide homes for many species and act as a nursery for fish.
We have agreed to underwrite the project, which will also help people discover and understand species and habitats in the park that are in danger and get involved in practical activities to help them.
  What a difference a good clean makes, as these before and after pictures of Pearl Assurance House show. The covers are now off and the landmark building is clean and gleaming, thanks to work being carried out in partnership with Historic England.
We’ve been working with building owners to help them apply for grants as part of the Historic England High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme, which is supporting the cost of cleaning and repair work. It’s been a big job, with the upper floors being cleaned across a total of 14 shop frontages.
Both the Pearl Assurance and Dingles buildings were built as cornerstones to Armada Way. The Pearl Assurance building is the more decorative, with embellished columns and carved stonework, which you can see better now.
Did you know that Thomas Tait, one of the architects of Sydney Harbour Bridge, was involved in its design?
 More ships, cargo, business and growth are on the horizon for Millbay Docks, thanks to £1.3 million of funding from the UK Government as part of the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport seed capital funding.
Associated British Ports is embarking on a series of infrastructure developments at Millbay to secure the long-term future of the ferry terminal, improve passenger experience, strengthen its freight capability, increase the port’s green credentials and grow the offer to the cruise market.
The investment will support the increased need for importing and exporting as new businesses move into the Freeport tax sites.
 The Council’s new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) champion will be working to bring all organisations in the city together in a united approach to the issue.
Councillor Zoe Reilly says the aim is for partners to work together to drive culture change, create safe spaces and ensure women and girls in Plymouth are supported and empowered to report violence and abuse and are able to get the support they need at the right time.
 Billions of pounds of benefits go unclaimed in the UK every year. With many people struggling with the cost of living crisis, we are encouraging them to take the time to check if they're claiming everything they’re entitled to using Citizens Advice Plymouth’s handy calculator.
It’s free to use, the details you provide are anonymous and it only takes 10 minutes to complete – but it could make a big difference.
Anyone needing more financial help and advice can use our Cost of Living hub which signposts to useful information about budgeting, saving, debt advice and much more.
 September 2024 may seem ages away but if your child is due to start secondary school you need to start the application process now.
We are taking applications from families whose children are due to start secondary school in September 2024 or wish to apply for a Key Stage 4 place.
The deadline for Secondary and Key Stage 4 applications is Tuesday 31 October 2023.
The easiest way to apply for a place is online through our website, where you will find full details on how to apply and how the admissions system works.
Each school now has its own admission criteria, so it’s important to look at the information relating to specific schools in the admission guidance booklet, also on our website.
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Order to prevent alcohol-related ASB extended
New plan to help unlock potential of young people in Plymouth
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Video: aerial footage shows completed Platinum Parkway scheme
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