Armada Way Opens to the Public
On Saturday 4th July, Plymouth officially welcomed the transformed Armada Way back to the public, and it was fantastic to see so many people enjoying the space from the moment the opening event began.
Having worked alongside the wider design team since 2022, our Creative Water Lead, Dan Haines, attended the opening and was able to see first-hand how people interacted with the various water features that now serve as the heart of the scheme.
The project incorporates a wide range of water features from the restored Phoenix Fountain and illuminated dancing jets, to a large rill which runs through the North of the site to just above the Sun Dial in the South, creating a continuous feature that brings movement and sound to the public realm. With colour-changing lighting integrated throughout, the rill is already attracting attention as daylight fades and the evening displays begin to take effect.
What makes the project particularly unique is the way water has been used as both a visual attraction and an environmental asset. The rill incorporates reeds and gravel filtration matrixes that help clean rainwater collected through the site’s sustainable drainage network. This is complemented by a series of reed beds located throughout Armada Way, together with filtration and UV treatment systems housed within the plant room, creating a scheme where water management, biodiversity and placemaking work hand in hand.
Reflecting on the opening day, Dan commented:
“Seeing so many people enjoying the space on Saturday made all of the hard work worthwhile. Public realm projects are about creating places that people want to spend time in, and it was great to see families playing in the jets, people stopping to watch the fountain displays and visitors exploring the wider water features throughout the site. The atmosphere throughout the day was incredibly positive and hopefully it’s a sign of what’s to come for both the city centre and the businesses around it.”
Projects like Armada Way are only possible through close collaboration, and we’d like to thank everyone who helped bring the vision to life, particularly Martin Ivatt and the team at Plymouth City Council, Marcus Grant and the team at Morgan Sindall, Will Hudson of Ridge & Partners, Lee Ferris and Damian Cadman of HLM Architects, Chris Hitchcock of EDP Environmental, Sam Hooper of Hoopers Landscapes, and Robin Wilson of LARC.
It was also great to see the project receiving coverage from BBC and ITV News as the city celebrated the opening.
We’ll be sharing more photographs, videos and a detailed project case study over the coming weeks, showcasing the water features and the wider sustainable water strategy in greater detail.
We’re also hoping to collaborate further with Will Hudson of Ridge and Partners to put together a presentation, exploring how SuDS principles and ornamental water features were successfully integrated on a project of this scale.
Congratulations to everyone involved. It’s been a privilege to play a part in a project that will be enjoyed by Plymouth residents and visitors for many years to come.
