Beckley Point
{{Short description|Building in Plymouth, United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Beckley Point
| image = Beckley Point, Plymouth (geograph 5778842).jpg
| location = Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
| address = 39 Cobourg St, Plymouth, PL1 1SP
| architect = Boyes Rees Architects
| start_date = 2015
| completion_date = 2018
| owner = Yugo
| cost = £30.79 million
| floor_count = 23
| highest_region = South West England
| highest_start = 2018
| current_tenants = 505
| height = {{convert|78|m|abbr=on}}
| main_contractor = Kier Group
| developer = Threesixty Developments Ltd
}}
Beckley Point is a private student accommodation building in Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom. It is owned and operated by Yugo, previously known as the Student Housing Company.
Background
Beckley Point is the tallest building in the south-west of England as of 2023 standing at {{convert|78|m|ft}} tall.
The building officially opened in 2018{{Cite news |date=2019-09-15 |title=Higher education: is Britain's student housing bubble set to burst? |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/770992fc-d3d6-11e9-a0bd-ab8ec6435630 |access-date=2023-04-01}} with 505 student rooms, a number of shared spaces, and a café.{{Cite web |last=Telford |first=William |date=2017-11-27 |title=Beckley Point finish date revealed - and it will look like this |url=http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/business/beckley-point-completion-date-revealed-838386 |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Telford |first=William |date=2018-10-05 |title=New coffee shop bringing touch of style to student tower |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/business/beckley-point-coffee-shop-ground-2075582 |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en}}
There is a gaming room with eight seats, a study room, a cinema room, a common room and on the 23rd floor of the building there is a sky lounge that is not accessible to members of the public.{{Cite web |last=Telford |first=William |date=2018-06-29 |title=You can now book the top level of Plymouth's tallest building |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/business/you-can-now-book-top-1727311 |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Telford |first=William |date=2018-04-30 |title=Eye-catching entrance to Beckley Point is finally unveiled |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/business/eye-catching-entrance-beckley-point-1517200 |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en}}
History
= Construction =
Planning permission for the building was approved on 26 November 2014.{{Cite web |title=14/01329/FUL {{!}} 22 storey building comprising 507 Student bedrooms, associated facilities and ground floor commercial units (Use Classes A2, A3, B1, D1, D2) {{!}} Beckley Court, Armada Way Plymouth |url=https://planning.plymouth.gov.uk/online-applications/caseDetails.do?caseType=Application&keyVal=ZZZZR8MMXE969 |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=planning.plymouth.gov.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Go-ahead for Plymouth's tallest building |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2014/11/28/plymouth-tallest-building-plan-approved/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=Construction Enquirer |language=en-GB}}
Construction began on 15 August 2015 and was initially completed on 8 February 2017 following delays due to the weather.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Nigel |date=2017-02-09 |title=Kier tops out at Plymouth's Beckley Point |url=https://cinmagazine.co.uk/kier-tops-plymouths-beckley-point/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=Construction Industry News |language=en-GB}} The building was designed by Boyes Rees Architects, developed by Threesixty Developments, and built by Kier Group.{{Cite web |title=Beckley Point - The Skyscraper Center |url=https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/plymouth/beckley-court/16712 |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=www.skyscrapercenter.com}}
Following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, the building's external cladding was tested and deemed satisfactory, however the developers decided to replace it as a precaution in the same year and completed all construction works in January 2018.{{Cite web |last=Finch |first=Hannah |date=2017-11-30 |title=Ten multi-million pound projects that are transforming Devon and Cornwall |url=http://www.devonlive.com/news/business/ten-multi-million-pound-projects-827604 |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=DevonLive |language=en}}
Incidents
During construction works in 2017, a group of teenagers broke into the site and climbed around {{convert|250|ft|abbr=on}} up the scaffolding around the building.{{Cite news |date=2017-04-02 |title=Group scales Plymouth tallest building |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-39472501 |access-date=2023-04-01}}
On 31 March 2020, the building was evacuated following a leak on the 21st floor which spread to the lower parts of the tower. A similar issue also occurred in 2017 whilst the building was still under construction.{{Cite web |last=Timms |first=Katie |date=2020-05-30 |title=Evacuation at Plymouth tower as water 'runs down building' |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/live-beckley-point-plymouth-water-4174816 |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en}}
Reception
The building was shortlisted for the Carbuncle Cup in 2018, a prize given to the ugliest building in the UK completed in the previous 12 months.{{Cite web |last=Channon |first=Max |date=2018-08-29 |title=Beckley Point on 'most hated building in UK award' shortlist |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/local-news/beckley-point-carbuncle-cup-shortlist-1946743 |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=2018-08-22T06:00:00+01:00 |title=Carbuncle Cup: Beckley Point, Plymouth by Boyes Rees Architects |url=https://www.bdonline.co.uk/buildings/carbuncle-cup-beckley-point-plymouth-by-boyes-rees-architects/5095180.article |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=Building Design |language=en}}
References
{{coords|50.37481|-4.14142|display=title}}{{s-start}}
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{{s-ttl
| title = Tallest Building in South West England
| years = 2018-present
78 m
}}
{{s-aft
| after = None
}}
{{s-end}}{{University of Plymouth}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Plymouth, Devon