• MP publishes fourth annual Buildings at Risk list for Plymouth.
• Three buildings leave the list after progress from owners.
• Palace Theatre remains Luke’s top concern.

Luke Pollard MP has issued a fresh call to the owners of Plymouth’s most iconic disused buildings to “invest or sell”, launching the 2025 edition of his Plymouth Buildings at Risk List.

The list features ten important Plymouth buildings that have fallen into disuse, with many suggested by local residents and councillors after Luke called for suggestions on his social media channels. Luke says that, unless action is taken, these buildings could be permanently damaged or lost to a fire.

The Palace Theatre on Union Street – opened in 1898 as a Victorian-era music hall – has been empty for fifteen years and again takes the top spot on Luke’s list.

There are two new entries on Luke’s 2025 list and one re-entry:

• The Reel Cinema returns to the list as efforts to renew it have stalled.
• The façade of the old Western Morning News building in the city centre, where Plymouth’s local papers used to be published, is a new entry due to the deteriorating state of the façade. The old building behind the pre-war façade was redeveloped decades ago but the historic frontage, one of the few that survived the Blitz and the city centre redevelopment was kept.
• The art deco-style Colin Campbell House, which is better known to Janners as the old Habitat building. Despite efforts to redevelop the building, this has stalled.

Three entries on Luke’s 2024 list: Pounds House in Central Park; the Merchants House near the Barbican; and the tidal pool at Devil’s Point, have been removed due to progress. The tidal pool at Devil’s Point has been repaired and Pounds House and the Merchants House have been put up for sale by the City Council to find a sympathetic owner to bring them back to life.

Since he launched his first Buildings at Risk list in 2022, progress has been made with buildings including Raglan Gatehouse, St Simon’s Church in Mount Gould and the exterior detailing of the RBS/Natwest building in the city centre.

Luke had sought recommendations from the public and members of the city council to prepare his 2025 list with the Palace Theatre being the building of greatest concern to local people. Luke plans to republish his Buildings at Risk List on an annual basis until the rest of Plymouth’s historic buildings are brought back to life.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said:

“My Buildings at Risk list shines a spotlight on the iconic buildings in Plymouth that have been left to rot. My challenge to their owners is simple: invest or sell to someone who will.

“Plymouth is my home and I’m so proud of our city’s rich history. Our buildings help to tell our story and I will keep campaigning until all of Plymouth’s iconic buildings are brought back into use.” 

Luke’s Buildings at Risk List 2025:

1. The Palace Theatre, Union Street
2. The Pot Black Building/Mechanics Institute, Devonport
3. The Royal Fleet Club, Devonport
4. The old Western Morning News building in the city centre – NEW
5. The Old Habitat Building in Colin Campbell Court Car Park  – NEW
6. Stoke Damerel High School for Girls, Devonport
7. Great Western Hotel, Union Street
8. The Cooperage, the Barbican
9. The Phoenix Tavern, near Union Street
10. The Reel Cinema, City Centre – RE-ENTRY