{{Short description|Building in Plymouth, England}} {{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, England | address = 39 Cobourg St, Plymouth, PL1 1SP | architect = Boyes Rees Architects | construction_start_date = 2015 | completion_date = 2018 | owner = Yugo | cost = £30.79 million | floor_count = 23 | 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, England. It is owned and operated by Yugo, previously known as the Student Housing Company.
== Background == Standing at {{convert|78|m|ft}} tall, Beckley Point is the tallest building in the south-west of England outside of Bristol.
The building officially opened in 2018<ref>{{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}}</ref> with 505 student rooms, a number of shared spaces, and a café.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
== History ==
=== Construction === Planning permission for the building was approved on 26 November 2014.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
Construction began on 15 August 2015<ref name=":0" /> and was initially completed on 8 February 2017 following delays due to the weather.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The building was designed by Boyes Rees Architects, developed by Threesixty Developments, and built by Kier Group.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
== 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
== 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= |date=2018-08-22 |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 }}</ref>
== References == <references />
Category:Buildings and structures in Plymouth, Devon Category:Residential buildings completed in 2018 Category:2018 establishments in England