A £26 million funding package has been agreed to redevelop Plymouth railway station.

Under the first phase of scheme, GWR will work with the Council and Network Rail on a phased upgrade to the station concourse and customer facilities around it.

Features include;

• Demolishing the rail incident safety centre (RISC building) on the east side of the railway station to enable a new multi-storey car park to be built

• By 2021 a new 469-space car park will be built on the site of the RISC building with almost double the capacity of the existing car park

• Modernised station staff accommodation

• Public space works including a direct pedestrian link to North Cross and the city centre

• A new-look entrance off North Cross will also massively improve the pedestrian access to the station

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• Potential for a new hotel and gateway development on the site of the existing car park, which will be demolished once the new one is completed.

A planning application for change of use is to be submitted for Intercity House, which towers above the station, to be entirely rejuvenated and restyled.

Council Leader Tudor Evans said: "This kickstarts a pledge that we made to Plymouth in May to deliver a new gateway to Plymouth at the train station with a new entrance overlooking the city, a new car park and more spaces for business and retail.

"We're leading on this regeneration, moving from the drawing board and concepts to planning real change on the ground. This is an extraordinarily complex scheme, but the timetable for much needed change is coming together.

"It's really exciting and following hot on the heels of other major city centre projects including The Box and Drake Circus Leisure redevelopment."

Managing Director for GWR, Mark Hopwood, said: "This is an exciting project for the city and for the railway.

"We have now started to operate brand new 10 car long distance trains to Plymouth and Cornwall, and we are delighted with the enthusiasm and willingness of our partners at Plymouth City Council and Network Rail to develop a project at Plymouth that will be great for our customers and will give Plymouth the standard of service and the quality of welcome that a city of its size and stature deserves."

(LM/CM)