Skip to main content

Route from Portland Square to the Babbage Building

University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Introduction

  • This is a route from the Portland Square Building to the Babbage Building.
  • The route is approximately 350m long.
  • It takes 5 minutes to complete the route.
  • The route is shown from the main entrance of the Portland Building.
  • The route is pedestrianised throughout its length except for the short final section on James Street.
  • The pedestrianised surface is block paved and there are some dished gutters across the route.
  • All the buildings are clearly named and there are some wall and finger signs.
  • A large marquee is often sited on The Piazza.
  • For more information about the Temporary Marquee on the Piazza please click here (opens in new tab).
  • Throughout the campus, University vehicles may use the pedestrian areas.
  • They are restricted to 5mph and pedestrians have the right of way.
  • The campus is situated on a hillside and there are sections of the route with steep gradients.

Portland Square

Portland Square Block A Entrance to Immersive Vision Theatre

  • On exiting the Block A entrance turn right towards the main pathway, shown in photograph 1.
  • There is a ramp, shown in photographs 2 and 3, on the right and 3 steps in front of you, shown in photograph 4.
  • There is corduroy tactile paving at the top of the steps.
  • Turn right onto the ramp which has an easy gradient and a handrail to the left.
  • Go straight ahead to the end of the building.
  • Against the wall to your right are bicycle racks.
  • There is corduroy tactile paving around the bicycle racks.
  • The pavement in this area has an even brick block surface, this area is shown in photographs 5 and 6.
  • Stay to the left of the lampposts for a clear pathway.
  • At the end of the building turn right up the slope, this area is shown in photographs 7 and 8.
  • The slope, shown in photograph 9, has an easy gradient and the Immersive Vision Theatre is on the left approximately 70m up the slope. As you turn left towards the Theatre there is an unmarked dished gutter, shown in photograph 10, crossing the route.
  • The Immersive Vision Theatre is shown in photographs 11 and 12 and the area around the building has an even brick block surface.

Immersive Vision Theatre to the Fitzroy Building

  • With the entrance to the Immersive Vision Theatre on your left go straight ahead.
  • This area has even brick block paving.
  • There is a low level (58cm) planter in the middle of the pathway between the theatre and the corner of Mary Newman Hall, shown in photographs 1 and 2.
  • On either side the gap between the planter and wall is 160cm.
  • Keeping towards the middle of the path to avoid the sloping approach to the building, go straight ahead for 30m to the front of the Fitzroy Building which is shown in photographs 3 and 4.

Fitzroy Building to the Rolle Building

  • Exit the Fitzroy Building, shown in photographs 1 and 2, and turn left along the front of the building.
  • As you exit the Fitzroy Building the paving slopes down in front of you.
  • There are no handrails.
  • The surface is even block paving with a smooth insert pavement, shown in photograph 3.
  • The Piazza is approximately 30m from the Fitzroy Building entrance.
  • At the time of survey there was a large marquee erected on the Piazza.
  • Turn left as you reach the marquee.
  • There is a lamp post on the corner as shown in photographs 4 and 5.
  • Proceed along the edge of the marquee for approximately 30m.
  • There is a line of steps on your left, shown in photograph 6, which have corduroy tactile warning paving in front of them.
  • Turn right as you reach the end of the marquee and the line of low level planters, shown in photograph 7.
  • Then proceed along the side of the marquee and Brunel Building.
  • Along this path, shown in photograph 8, there is a step on the marquee side which has a line of corduroy tactile warning paving.
  • There are frequent lamp posts and a bin along this area which narrow the path to 105cm.
  • As you reach the end of the marquee keep to the left by the Brunel Building to avoid a low level planter and lamp post in the centre of the path, shown in photograph 9.
  • Continue along the edge of the Brunel building until you reach St James Street, shown in photograph 12, and turn right towards the Rolle Building entrance.
  • There is a set of steps along the front of the Rolle Building with corduroy tactile paving at the top and bottom.
  • The surrounding paving, shown in photographs 10 and 11, is an even brick block.

The Rolle Building to the Babbage Building

  • After turning right onto James Street, shown in photograph 1, walk approximately 30m to the temporary main building entrance shown in photograph 2.
  • The pavement here is even tarmac with a steep gradient.
  • Turn left to cross James Street at the dropped kerbs outside the Rolle Building entrance.
  • This crossing has dropped kerbs on both sides and no tactile paving.
  • There is a speed bump to the right of this section of road.
  • This crossing is shown in photographs 3 and 4.
  • After crossing James Street turn left and walk down the hill.
  • This section of pavement has a steep gradient and an even brick block surface changing to tarmac after approximately 35m.
  • This section of pavement is shown in photographs 5 and 6.
  • After approximately 15m of tarmac paving there is an access road for the visitors car park.
  • Cross this access road and continue along James Street.
  • This crossing has dropped kerbs and tactile paving on both sides and a concrete road surface.
  • This crossing is shown in photographs 7 and 8.
  • The pavement on the far side of the car park access road continues as before with an even tarmac surface with a steep gradient.
  • This area is shown in photographs 9 and 10.
  • There are 2 metal manhole covers, just beyond the crossing, approximately 10m apart and another 2 approximately 25m apart beyond that.
  • After approximately 45m you pass in front of the Babbage building first floor stepped entrance, shown in photograph 11.
  • Continue for approximately 30m beyond this entrance and turn right at the tactile paving, shown in photograph 12.
  • This will lead to the entrance ramp to the Babbage Building ground floor entrance.
  • The ramp, shown in photograph 13, is easy with no hand rails and a concrete slab surface.
  • At the bottom of the ramp turn right and proceed along the Babbage building for approximately 30m and the entrance is on your left.

Babbage Building