Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Having once played a major role in the supremacy of the British Navy, the Royal William Yard in Plymouth now has a brand new role to play... in the regeneration of the city's waterfront.

The former victualling yard on the banks of the River Tamar was once the supply stores for the Royal Navy, ensuring the ships had sufficient stocks of food and drink.

The 18-acre peninsula includes a section which was reclaimed from the sea. The yard was designed by eminent Victorian engineer Sir John Rennie and was built between 1825 and 1835 with the help of convict labour.

The road inside the Royal William Yard

It remained the navy's stores until the early 1990s, when the Government decided to close it.

It lay disused for several years, before the site was acquired by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) in 1999.

Because the buildings are listed by English Heritage, the redevelopment is being done with great care.

The developers are Manchester-based Urban Splash, who are doing the work to the inside of the various buildings which make up the Royal William Yard.

The complex is a mix of apartments, businesses and leisure space - including a cafe open to the general public.

The original materials inside the buildings are being retained, including the stone walls and timber floors.

The yard has a unique setting on the River Tamar

To date, the SWRDA has spent Β£20 million on renovating the outside of the listed buildings and another Β£5 million on the yard's roads, pavements and quaysides.

The Clarence and the Brewhouse were the first two buildings to be restored, and the Mills Bakery is the latest to be developed.

However, the huge renovation project will still take several years to complete.

Already, it has been recognised by English Heritage as one of the 30 best development schemes in the UK involving an historic environment.

And, for the first time, the peninsula - with views across the Tamar - is open to the public, after being a no-go area while in the hands of the Royal Navy for over 150 years.