Half of the projects under the Town Deal programme are now underway, one year on from the first £18-million in funding coming to Cornwall. 

Seventeen projects aimed at supporting regeneration in Camborne, Penzance, St Ives and Truro are now on their way to becoming a reality. 

For some this has meant securing match-funding, finalising designs and applying for planning permission, while the more advanced projects are in the process of contracting builders or already under construction.  

Cllr Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for economy, said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime investment for Cornwall and the four Town Deal Boards are working hard to realise the vision for their communities. 

“The first phase of funding triggered the start of a lot of the ‘behind the scenes’ work required to bring these projects to fruition. Now we’re starting to see real progress on these projects and plans are underway for the remaining half of our programme, the largest across the country.” 

In Camborne the projects currently underway include refurbishment of the former Boots shop – a disused building in the heart of the town centre - into a modern co-working space and the refurbishment of the Create Contemporary Crafts Hub  at the Donald Thomas Centre to offer a dedicated space for artists as well as training courses for residents.

In Penzance and Newlyn, construction work on the Gardeners’ House is set to begin in December, while following the purchase of Market House, designs are being progressed to give a new life to the vacant part of the building.

In St Ives the Community Orchard and Wildlife Reserve project will feature a new environmentally sustainable facility on Penbeagle Hill, with opportunities for training, workshops and community events for residents, local groups and schools. That is due to be completed by the end of this year, while work is due to begin this month on paving the way for the restoration of St Ives Guildhall.

Planning permission is also now in place for a £4.9m project to create a community hub, production studio and learning space at Leach Pottery.

There are also grant schemes available in Camborne and Penzance for businesses and organisations.

Val Dalley, chair of the Camborne Town Deal Board said: “The vision set out in the town investment plan has really started to take shape in Camborne, with the old and vacant Boots shop being refurbished into a brand new co-working space; capital improvement grants being awarded to local businesses by Camborne BID; the replacement of the grandstand roof at the recreation ground and the transformation of the Donald Thomas Centre into the Create Contemporary Crafts Hub. Plenty more is in store for 2024 as our other projects get their funding agreements this autumn.” 

Gareth Jones, vice-chair of the St Ives Town Deal Board, said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved so far in St Ives and are particularly excited to see the completion of our first project approaching fast. We are looking forward to the opening early next year of the new sustainable community facility on the orchard site. Round two of our Enterprise Grants Scheme is also about to reopen. We will also be consulting our community later this year on the initial proposals for the low carbon transport project.” 

Martin Tucker, chair of the Penzance Town Deal Board, added: “The Town Deal projects in Penzance and Newlyn have been gaining real momentum with most of our projects having now started their delivery. 

Our Enterprise Grants scheme has been really popular and round two for grants of under £50,000 is about to start again. 

In November, we will be consulting on the proposals to improve sustainable travel in the town, while in December we should see the first shovel in the ground as work start on the Gardeners’ House.”

Cornwall Council, in partnership with the Town Deal Boards in Camborne, Penzance, St Ives and Truro, successfully bid for £88.7million from the UK Government’s Town Deal as part of its Levelling Up initiative. 

The funding will support 34 projects and will contribute to the regeneration of the towns and boost the local economy.

Activities funded by the Town Deal are due to be completed by March 2026.