Seven projects which will help turn Truro into a ‘connected river city’
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A first tranche of funding has been released to Cornwall Council to enable Truro Town Deal projects to get under way. Truro was allocated £23.6 million last year to deliver a package of seven transformational projects that together will enhance it as a “connected river city”.
Since then, business cases have been developed to enable the Government to sign off individual projects which will trigger the release of the funding. Grant funding agreements will be issued to projects in the coming months, which will enable them to take positive steps towards achieving their goals of delivering improvements in the quality of life for local residents, supporting local businesses, and providing skills development opportunities.
Alan Stanhope, chair of Truro Town Deal board, said: “This is a huge milestone for Truro. We can start to draw down some significant investment and the real work can begin to put our projects into action. This is a result of two years of exceptional work from a committed board of volunteers and a small team to develop our portfolio."
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"Over the past six months, we’ve been working on very detailed business cases and it’s this behind-the-scenes effort that has enabled the Government to release the first part of our Town Deal funding. We’re proud to be able to get finally started in delivering our vision for Truro as a connected river city.”
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The eight Truro Town Deal projects submitted to Government are:
Pydar will transform the creative economy of Truro. It will be home to ‘The Hive’, a digitally focused and entrepreneurial new innovative learning and living environment that will help create jobs in high-growth, high-value business that will benefit Cornwall’s wider economy.
The Hive, to be created by Autumn 2024, will be a hub for the screen and digital sectors focusing on film, television, games and animation but with an emphasis on entrepreneurship, providing a new model of ‘living, learning, working and playing’. It will be home to students, researchers and entrepreneurs from Falmouth University as well as local digital start-ups.
Recognising the wealth of historical buildings and the value of Truro’s cultural assets to our visitor’s experience, this project will position Truro as a cultural capital. Responding to the empty spaces above shops and on the edge of the city, this project is about refurbishing and repurposing buildings to add vitality to the city centre.
A two-storey building providing a café/hospitality area, covered garden space with indoor play, a range of lettable spaces and changing facilities. Within the wider master plan, a new 3G sports pitch is proposed to provide year-round, all-weather sports training ground for Truro.
As the attraction waits to find out about long-term funding for its future, this project will support Royal Cornwall Museum to provide a revamped minerals exhibition space with a digital learning lab that will deliver cultural and economic impacts for Truro and Cornwall. RCM has a goal to become carbon neutral by 2030. Building renovations under this project will help towards this.
There are two key elements:
Truro Harbour: transforming this area for modern day leisure use alongside a vastly improved and reimagined events space creating a destination for residents, business owners and visitors unlocking a wide range of commercial and leisure opportunities.
Lemon Quay: reimagining Truro’s main public space with a part roof cover to create a weather-proof vibrant community, arts, performance, leisure and events space enabling Truro to host an exciting programme of co-ordinated events. New furniture and landscaping will create green space at the heart of the city adding to Truro’s appeal as a vibrant city complementing the retail offer.
The project includes a key cycle link between Threemilestone and Truro and an iconic lifting bridge between Newham and Boscawen Park and seeks to encourage people to walk and cycle for short trips and lead to a less polluted, less congested city with reduced traffic noise and more people centred streets.
The Hub will be based in the repurposed Wesley Hall, part of Truro Methodist Church, a Grade II heritage asset cementing the role of this landmark Methodist building as part of a more culturally alive and connected community, accessible to all. The Hub will be just that; a central place where Truro people of all ages, backgrounds, faiths and orientations can connect with each other, be part of a wider network of community support and be part of shaping their city’s future as well as improving their own quality of life.
Cherilyn Mackrory, MP for Truro, said: “This is the moment we have been waiting for. A lot of hard work by key local stakeholders has got us to where we are now with this project. This really is a game-changer for Truro which will allow us to start unlocking our city’s potential. Levelling Up is still at the heart of the Government’s agenda and decisions like these clearly demonstrate that. This pot of money will allow us to start investing in a variety of different projects in Truro that will benefit those who live, work and grow up here.”
Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council cabinet member for economy, said: “With the first year of funding now in place, Truro can now start to deliver on the projects that will make a difference to their communities. So much work has gone on behind the scenes to get to where we are today and confirmation that projects can now progress is testament to the commitment and vision of the Town Deal Boards.
“Cornwall Council will itself be delivering 11 ambitious projects across the four areas of Camborne, Truro, Penzance and St Ives using Town Deal funding to improve connectivity, public spaces, housing and offer grants to businesses. I have no doubt that these investments will revitalise the town – and city – centres, improving life for residents and creating sustainable communities now and into the future.”
Community engagement activity is continuing for some projects ahead of applications for planning permission, including Truro Community Hub and Boscawen Park Sports and Recreation Hub.
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