FOLLOWING a dramatic reduction to plans for what was an “iconic” bridge in Truro and the scrapping of another pedestrian bridge originally promised for the city, the Truro Town Deal scheme has received another financial blow.

It has been revealed that the designs for the refurbishment of Lemon Quay have also proved unaffordable.

The Truro Town Deal Board stated last year that the £23.6m funding it received from the Government to revitalise the city had been cut by a third in real terms due to the cost of living crisis, which is likely to have worsened in the ensuing year. That led to the removal of plans for a bridge linking Town Quay on Morlaix Avenue to Garras Wharf car park last year.

Then in June this year the board revealed it had scrapped plans for a lifting bridge, connecting Truro’s Boscawen Park with Newham, in favour of a swing bridge at a reduced cost. Now it is Lemon Quay that has been hit.

Truro City Council clerk David Rodda revealed at a meeting this week that the final designs for the refurbishment are unaffordable so Cornwall Council is undertaking a “value engineering exercise” to see what can be removed without impacting the quality of the proposal. Mr Rodda’s report to councillors said: “This will be a challenging process with a number of ‘trade-offs’ expected. No further detail is available at this time although it has been mooted that the works will begin in January 2026.”

During the meeting, Mr Rodda added: “The original plans have proved unaffordable so Cornwall Council is redesigning them. I have not seen those plans yet. I believe within those plans as you’re heading up Lemon Quay with Marks & Spencer and Primark on your left, there will be four in-ground trees.”

The original Town Deal refurbishment plan for what is known locally as the “piazza” was for new tree planting, soft and hard landscaping, improved street furniture and lighting that were “all designed to encourage greater use of this valuable space”. The original statement says: “Existing street furniture and signage will first be rationalised to remove clutter and improve legibility. The tree planting will include benches and landscaping that give the public opportunities to sit, relax and play.

“The landscaping is proposed to encourage better visibility and connection to Truro River and enhance the existing design of Lemon Quay. Landscaping designs are being developed that draw upon the stories of this historic setting and provide a robust backdrop to the activities and events that are hosted in the area. Improved services within Lemon Quay are proposed to attract a wider variety of events, improve the visitor experience and enhance public safety. Greater provision of cycle parking is proposed to encourage use of the wider green transport links.”

It is not yet known how much of this original vision will still happen. A spokesperson from Cornwall Council, which is delivering the project on behalf of the Town Deal Board, said: “The re-invigoration of Lemon Quay, as part of the £23.6-million Truro Town Deal, began this summer with the successful removal of the derelict Compton Castle paddle steamer. Works to the wider quay are currently being finalised and are expected to commence early in the new year.

“The project has not been immune to price increases experienced across the construction sector and so a careful exercise to reduce costs while still delivering tangible enhancements has been undertaken.” The council has said it will reveal more details about the changed works to Lemon Quay as soon as that information is available.

In June, the Truro Town Deal Board revealed that plans for the Newham lifting bridge had been dumped in favour of a swing bridge. The original proposal of a bascule-type bridge, which had been dubbed “iconic” by the board, was seen as a vital part of a project to create a connecting loop throughout the city for pedestrians and cyclists.

The board agreed to explore alternative bridge designs in light of rising construction costs for the original lifting bridge. The proposed new swing bridge will still enable pedestrians and cyclists to cross the Truro River between the Newham Trail and Boscawen Park, while ensuring Truro harbour remains accessible by boat and watercraft.

Estimates for the original lifting bridge rose to between £6.25m and £6.86m. The swing design is estimated at between £5.36m and £5.86m. The budget allocation within the Town Deal sits at £4.59m with the remaining shortfall expected made up from Cornwall Council through Active Travel England funding, subject to approval.

Before the idea was scrapped, the original plan for the lifting bridge was saved in 2024 by sacrificing another part of the Truro Town Deal plans. Another pedestrian bridge – planned to link Town Quay on Morlaix Avenue with the Garras Wharf car park – was removed from the scheme.

Other parts of the Truro Town Deal project are going ahead as planned, including a Sports Hub at Boscawen Park – a two-storey building providing an events/hospitality area, indoor sports and conference space, with a range of lettable spaces and changing facilities.

Truro City Council was told on Monday that Fox Construction are on site. “The site clearance, piling and foundations have been completed and the block work has begun. Excellent progress is being made and an official turf-cutting ceremony was held in early September. Cost certainty has been finalised and the building will be delivered within agreed budgets,” said the clerk’s report.