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The Penzance Creative Cluster, which was due for completion this autumn, will not open until next summer, reports the AJ’s sister title Construction News.
Cornwall Council said the hold-up was due to ‘delays in the construction programme’, but it emphasised its commitment to the project, which it regards as critical to the regeneration of the seaside town.
The scheme is being delivered by Kier, which was was brought in last summer to replace collapsed contractor Midas on the scheme.
Construction of the three-storey building was abandoned after Midas called in administrators in February 2022, owing creditors £22 million.
When complete, the hub is expected to offer 30 modern studios and flexible workspaces for smaller businesses in the creative sector, ranging from digital firms to visual and performance artists.
Cornwall Council has put £3.5 million into the project – which was approved in 2021 – while the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) contributed £6.5 million.
Cornwall Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for economy, Louis Gardner, said the hub was already attracting significant interest from potential tenants and would be completed as soon as possible.
‘While I’m sure news of delays to the opening date will come as a disappointment to many in the town, I want to reassure residents that we – and our contractor Kier – are committed to completing this project as quickly as possible,’ he said.
‘We have already received lots of interest from businesses wanting to be based here and we are committed to ensuring the first tenants will be working from the building in summer 2024.’
Councillor for Penzance East, Tim Dwelly, said that, although the timescale had slipped, the project remained vital to the town’s regeneration.
‘To revitalise our high streets, we have to bring businesses – and, as a result, jobs – to our town centres. That’s why the Penzance Creative Cluster building is so important to the town,’ he said.
‘Cornwall has more people working within the creative industries than any other rural area in the UK and we know there is an opportunity to grow this sector further by providing high-quality town-centre workspace.
‘While the delays are frustrating, I’m pleased to see that the building will be open in the summer.’
Stride Treglown and Kier have been approached for comment.
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