Planning permission has been granted for a new £7 million state of the art Cycle Hub in Cornwall.

In the week leading up to the Tour of Britain Grand Depart this Sunday, which will see elite cyclists from all over the world race in Cornwall, it is a major step forward for the project that Cornwall Council said would be fully accessible and offer opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities to take part in cycling activities.

In a partnership between British Cycling, Cornwall Council and Sport England, the Cycle Hub, to be built on council-owned land near the Newquay Aerohub Business Park, will also be a destination for people to come and enjoy the 54-acres of enhanced natural environment.

The project is part of the council’s investment into cycling across Cornwall.

Cornwall Council portfolio holder for transport, Philip Desmonde, said: “We’re building a home for cycling in Cornwall so that the inspiration and legacy of the Tour of Britain will benefit Cornwall’s residents for years to come." 

The Hub is designed to be somewhere safe where trained staff can provide coaching to develop skills and bike handling for all ages and abilities.

This could be from the youngest child learning on a balance bike, someone who has been referred through their GP, a child with a dream of becoming the next Laura or Jason Kenny, or someone who wants to learn how to ride their e-bike safely.

The 54-acre site will also contribute to the council’s Climate Change Action Plan, as the built areas of the Hub will take up only 12% of the site. The proposals include significant amounts of tree planting, wildflower areas and managed grasslands.

Providing a national standard closed road circuit racing track and European standard BMX track also brings opportunities to host high standard events at the Hub, which the council said would bring added economic benefits for the area.

Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay said: “The Cycle Hub is for everyone and encourages us all to be more active. It will not only give performance cyclists a safe place to train and race away from the road, but will also provide opportunities for residents with a disability to cycle, be a place of referral to help tackle mental and physical health issues, and a venue for schools and other groups to come and learn to ride safely.”

Dr Rob White, a GP, chair of the Diabetic Oversight Group, member of the NHS Kernow Commissioning Group, and clinical director for Coastal Primary Care Network, said: “This is what we have been crying out for in Cornwall, to enable health to refer to, engage with and support to promote all aspects of health.

"We cannot have enough of this type of enterprise in promoting healthy living and weight management to reverse the tide of type 2 diabetes and to support mental and physical health and wellbeing”

The planning application was submitted following a comprehensive consultation last summer with the public and schools, the cycling governing body British Cycling, and the Cornish cycling community.

Match funding for the pre-development costs was received from the British Cycling and Sport England through the Places to Ride Fund.

Describing the hub as "regionally significant," Andy Farr, British Cycling head of business planning and transformation said: “The breadth of facilities proposed will give opportunities for riders at all different stages, from learning to ride for the first time, through to cycle sport competition and training.

"The scope of the project will include many different cycling disciplines, including mountain biking, road cycling, BMX, cyclocross and others, meaning that there should be opportunities for everyone.

"The South West has traditionally been under-provided for in relation to high quality cycling facilities and this hub will be a huge step forward.”

Having now secured planning consent, the focus will shift to securing the funding in order to allow work to commence on what is expected to be a 12-month build.