Plymouth's historic Drake's Island fortress sold

03 September 2019

Drake's Island in Devon, an historic island fortress has been sold.

It has been bought for an undisclosed sum, off a guide price of £6m, by Plymouth businessman Morgan Phillips, whose Guardian Industrial UK company is involved in numerous building projects in the South West.

He said he wanted to "restore it for the people of Plymouth and visitors".

The six-acre island, which is 600m off the coast of Plymouth and is named after sailor Sir Francis Drake, has planning permission for a luxury hotel and spa.

Phillips said he wanted to preserve the original features and structures on the island and enhance them in line with the planning permission.

He said he planned to create a living museum and heritage centre, while a water sports centre was also under consideration.

Phillips said he wanted to start the project as soon as possible.

In 1995 the Crown Estate put Drake's Island up for sale for £235,000 and eventually it was purchased by former Plymouth Argyle Chairman, Dan McCauley. Plymouth City Council turned down a planning application in 2003, meaning the island was left unused.

In spring 2017, Plymouth City Council granted planning permission to create a luxury £10m hotel with 25 rooms and a spa complex