Update from Plymouth City Council (26th May 2026):
The exclusion zone around Evolution Cove is to be lifted overnight after both the Council and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service deemed the building safe enough for residents to return.
A meeting took place today between the building owners, engineers, and Council structural experts as well as the fire and rescue service to discuss the remediation work.
The work involved installing props within the underground car park and this was followed by a short period of monitoring to check its stability.
The Council’s independent structural experts then reviewed a report provided by Clancy, the structural engineers to verify the findings.
As a result, the Council’s Section 77 Order and Fire Service’s Prohibition Notice have been lifted – meaning Evolution Cove residents can return home.
Plymouth City Council evacuated 14 households on the night of April 17 when the exclusion zone was originally put in place and they are being informed they can return to their homes from 8am tomorrow morning.
A team will be in Durnford Street from this evening to start dismantling the exclusion zone and the traffic management system.
As there is a significant amount of fencing around the exclusion zone along with cones, cabling and signals that need to be removed, this is expected to take some time. We are aiming for the zone to be removed by 8am tomorrow morning.
Glenn Caplin-Grey, Strategic Director for Growth said: “We know this has not been an easy time for anyone – the residents of Evolution Cove, their neighbours who had to leave their homes and the residents and businesses of the wider Stonehouse peninsula.
“We would just like to say thank you for bearing with us.”
