Mills Bakery by Urban Splash and Gillespie Yunnie Architects will be presented at the AT Awards live finals on 17 September 2025. Learn more about the project below.

Completed
2010

Mills Bakery is a Grade I listed building at the heart of Royal William Yard (RWY) in Plymouth, redeveloped by Urban Splash as part of a broader regeneration of this historic naval victualling yard. Originally built between 1825 and 1831, the Yard now comprises a mixed-use waterfront destination that includes 86 apartments, over 1,700 square metres of retail space, and 2,500 square metres of office accommodation. The project, delivered in collaboration with the South West Regional Development Agency and Plymouth City Council, has reimagined the building’s heritage value while embedding it in a contemporary civic and commercial context.

Retrofitting Mills Bakery posed significant challenges, especially in terms of preserving its historic structure while making it viable and safe for residential and commercial use. The project retained as much of the original building fabric as possible, adopting a “fabric first” approach to reduce the need for new materials. Key structural features such as timber floors, cast iron columns, and the building’s chimney were repaired and integrated into a new design strategy. The regeneration also had to contend with limited natural light, fire safety risks, and past fire damage, requiring careful spatial planning and innovative solutions to ensure comfort, safety, and sustainability.

A central part of the adaptation strategy involved repurposing the building’s chimney and oven rooms to create a centralised heating system, connected to Plymouth’s District Heating Network. Accessibility and wellbeing were key drivers in the design, leading to the creation of two open atriums – one residential and one commercial – that encourage social connection and provide fully accessible circulation. The interiors combine modern materials like glass and walnut with retained historic elements to create a sense of continuity and comfort. The flexible commercial spaces are designed to support a range of business uses over time, contributing to the building’s long-term adaptability.

In use, Mills Bakery offers a successful balance of heritage and contemporary living. Apartments are durable, comfortable, and aesthetically aligned with the building’s character, while the commercial and public areas foster a strong sense of community. The building’s location within the wider Yard supports access to sustainable transport, green spaces, and the South West coastline.

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