Work resumes on £170m city scheme after long delay

Work has resumed on the final phase of demolition of a major regeneration project in Cornwall but the completion date remains uncertain.

The £170m Pydar development in Truro is set to include new offices, retail units and housing, plus a university centre with 400 student flats.

As part of the build, the old Carrick District Council offices and the viaduct car park were demolished, but nothing has happened on the site since summer 2022.

Treveth, Cornwall Council's arms length development company, said interest rates needed to drop before the scheme could be financially viable.

The idea behind the Pydar Regeneration Project was to regenerate a run down area of the city and create a vibrant new neighbourhood and destination for Truro.

Planning permission for the development project was granted in 2021.

Under the proposals, 320 homes would be built, 112 of which will be classified as affordable. It is also set to include 400 student bed spaces.

Another key part of the development will be The Hive, a new centre for Falmouth University, and a facility for screen and digital sectors.

However, the project has been hit by increased costs due to higher interest rates and extra building regulations bought in after the Grenfell disaster.

The council had to pump an extra £10m in March 2024 to cover increased project costs.

Tim Mulholland, chief executive of Treveth, said: "It's been very frustrating for everybody that we've had a two-year hiatus but we're back on.

"Part of the delay was due to to existing tenancy agreements in the former retail units and the bowling alley, but those have now come to an end."

On the additional costs, Mr Mulholland said: "The Building Safety Act, which was a consequence of Grenfell, came into play which affects all buildings in excess of six metres."

He said interest rates were still too high for the loan the project needed, which "takes the scheme out of financial viability".

"We're not here to lose money," he added.

For people living and working in the northern edge of Truro, the Pydar site has become a regular item of conversation.

Workers at the Sole Plaice fish and chip shop, across the road from the development, said they had seen bulldozers come and go.

Kathy, one of the workers, said: "A lot of customers come in and ask what's going on, and why has it stopped for so long, we don't know and it's not very nice."

Her colleague Stella added: "We're just so up in the air with it."

Work has now resumed on demolishing the remaining buildings on the site but the completion date for the project has not been confirmed.

Mr Mulholland said: "The build out programme should take about six years.

"At the moment our workers are stripping the interior of the remaining buildings before the hazardous waste (asbestos) is removed.

"Depending on environmental factors, we hope to see the bulldozers back here in April."

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