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Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has advised Devonport Royal Dockyard Limited, part of Babcock International Group, on its acquisition of the former House of Fraser department store in the heart of Plymouth city centre.
The landmark building, previously owned by British Land, had been facing vacancy following the insolvency of House of Fraser. Babcock plans to undertake a major refurbishment of the property and convert it into high‑quality office space, enabling the relocation of around 2,000 employees currently based within Devonport Royal Dockyard.
The move is set to play an important role in freeing up capacity within the dockyard to support significant infrastructure upgrades and the delivery of key maintenance programmes for the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet and new Type 26 Frigates.
Beyond its strategic operational value, the acquisition represents a major boost for Plymouth’s city centre economy. The daily presence of 2,000 additional workers is expected to increase footfall, benefiting local retail, hospitality and leisure businesses and contributing to the ongoing regeneration of the city’s core.
WBD’s real estate team advised Babcock on all legal aspects of the acquisition, drawing on the firm’s extensive experience supporting major development and regeneration projects across the South West and wider UK. The transaction was led by partner Anthony Alderman, supported by solicitor Harry Lee and paralegal Katie Woodham.
Anthony Alderman, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, commented:
“This is a significant acquisition for Plymouth and an important step in enabling Babcock to deliver critical national defence programmes. We are pleased to have supported Babcock on a transaction that will bring both economic and social value to the city centre, while unlocking transformative opportunities at the dockyard.”
