What Might Have Been
After the initial works and opening in 1931, much of the park consisted of open space partitioned by pathways and hedgebanks. It was a canvas waiting to be filled. The way that the park actually developed is described in other sections but all kinds of ideas have been considered over the years and not taken forward, and they are covered here.
- 1937 Milehouse entrance idea
At the start of the Coronation year, 1937, two stone pillars at the entrance to Compton Park Villas Road (now Compton Avenue) became available, prompting a… Read more: 1937 Milehouse entrance idea - 1963 First ideas for a sports centre
Once a decision had been taken in 1962 to build the new indoor swimming pool in Central Park and not in the city centre as some… Read more: 1963 First ideas for a sports centre - 1972 The Pennycomequick flyover
In 1972, Devon County Council – the Highways Authority at the time – made provision for a £10 million dual-carriageway flyover that would have linked the… Read more: 1972 The Pennycomequick flyover - 1990 Central Leisure Park
By 1990, the Mayflower Centre and its extensions were starting to look time-worn, having been cheaply constructed. Other sports halls in the city were also at… Read more: 1990 Central Leisure Park - 1991 Major plans for Central Park
In a four-page edition of ‘Plymouth People’ in 1991, the Council set out its vision for better sports facilities which included refurbishing the run-down Mayflower Centre… Read more: 1991 Major plans for Central Park - 1996 The Tradium
The front page of the Evening Herald on 11th April 1996 unveiled a bold design for a future super-stadium, called the ‘Tradium’, at Home Park. An… Read more: 1996 The Tradium - 2001 Central Park Action Plan
Extensive consultation in 2000, showed that most people wanted better sports facilities with a new-build replacement for the aging Mayflower Centre but having better park facilities… Read more: 2001 Central Park Action Plan - 2008 New housing
The 2008 Area Action Plan sought to improve the park’s landscape quality and access whilst minimising maintenance commitments and maximising revenue generation. It proposed to create… Read more: 2008 New housing - 2009 World Cup host city bid
In 2009, English football clubs were vying to be one of the host venues for the 2018 World Cup competition should the country win the bid. … Read more: 2009 World Cup host city bid - 2013 Plans for Higher Home Park
By March 2011, Plymouth Argyle was heavily in debt and its directors decided to put the club into administration. Once the bulk of the debt had… Read more: 2013 Plans for Higher Home Park