Cornwall Pydar project to transform Truro

While the south end of Pydar Street has the historic and striking Truro Cathedral the other end of the street is a different story.

Leading onto St Clement Street it is dominated by drab, grey blocks which house everything from offices to a bowling alley and a multi-storey car park whilst Cornwall’s longest viaduct is located behind it all.

For years there have been discussions about how to redevelop and regenerate the site and various plans have come forward with grand ideas before gradually slipping away.

Slap bang in the middle of Truro and covering a large chunk of land it should be a prime opportunity to create something which would complement the city.

This week new plans for a £170million project were granted outline planning permission by Cornwall Council which hopes that over the next eight years it can transform this part of Truro into something which is vibrant and beneficial for all.

There are still concerns about the proposals with councillors worried about the scale of the development and the height of buildings which include some six-storey blocks.

So, what are the Pydar plans and how will they emerge over the next few years?

On a sleek website for the project there is a vision for Pydar. This states: “Pydar will pioneer new ways of living, learning, working and playing; putting the community back into the heart of Truro and creating a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable urban neighbourhood. It will champion the very best of Cornwall; from cutting-edge digital technology and high-growth, high-value businesses, through to individuals proudly continuing traditional skills and industries.

“It will be home to exciting, diverse and multi-generational housing and a new innovative learning and living environment to help grow both a vibrant local community and Cornwall’s wider economy. It will embrace the riverside and offer a range of engaging leisure, hospitality and cultural facilities and events. With a focus on providing low energy and low cost buildings, sustainable transport and increased biodiversity, Pydar will be adaptable, resilient and fit for future living. 

“By becoming a go-to destination for all who love Cornwall and seek to explore central Truro, the buzz of Pydar will help shape a strong future for ‘Truro 2030 / Thriving River City. Pydar is a place where the future will become the present and where ideas, innovation and imagination will come to life.

“The redevelopment of Pydar is for everyone – one and all.”

One key aspect of the project is that it has been deliberately designed so that it does not take anything away from the existing city centre.

Previous plans suggested that the best way forward would be to build more retail outlets which although they could add to the city they might also tempt high street names out of the existing centre.

Instead the focus for the Pydar project has been on housing – 70% of the land use of the site is residential – and other uses which could help boost the city centre. Just 2% of the site will be for retail outlets.

Housing is a major part of the proposals – up to 320 new homes are planned of which 35% will be affordable.

This is a key part of the scheme as there have long been concerns about the number of people who work in Truro but are unable to live in the city – either due to a lack of available homes or lack of affordable housing.

Alun Jones, manager of Truro BID, highlighted to Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee that pre-covid there were between 14,000 and 17,000 daily commuters coming into Truro.

Whilst the number of homes being provided will not cut that dramatically, it could be a start to helping people who work in the city be able to live in the city.

Additionally there are up to 400 student beds planned for the development which will go hand in hand with the planned new campus for Falmouth University on the site.

Both the extra housing and student accommodation could also provide a boost for the night time economy in Truro as well with people living in the city more likely to venture out in the evening.

Again Mr Jones highlighted the benefits of this, stating that Truro is currently populated between 9am and 5pm when shops are open before dropping dramatically in the evening.

The university campus itself – known as The Hive – will also provide a boost as not only will it be a learning space for students but will also provide space for start-up businesses in what is described as a “hub for the screen and digital sectors”.

In a letter indicating support for the proposals the university said that The Hive would be a state of the art building that “will provide a blueprint for how innovation, enterprise and education will weave together in the future”.

Not only will it be providing education for a new generation but will also provide job and business opportunities.

One Cornwall councillor also told the planning committee that The Hive would also provide an interactive experience for children similar to that in the Science Museum in London.

There will also be a number of leisure facilities created on site with plans for bars and restaurants as well as a hotel.

The Pydar project will also create new green space across a site which is largely concrete at present with 3.5 acres of open spaces planned.

There are also plans for extensive tree planting across the site and the project says that 60% of all energy for the development will come from renewable energy sources including ground source heating and solar panels.

In outlining the economic benefits of the scheme the Pydar project says that it will create 623 long term jobs and more than 1,500 short term construction jobs and that those jobs will generate more than £23m of local spending.

Over the first 10 years of occupation the project is forecast to generate between £152m and £197m.

Now that outline planning permission has been secured for the project there will now be reserved matters planning applications which will set out the design, layout and fine details such as the materials which will be used.

If those are approved then it is hoped that work on the first phase of the project will start next year and is expected to take 18 months.

The first phase will provide some of the residential development, student accommodation, some restaurants and bars, a bowling alley and The Hive.

There will also be some public spaces created, tree planting and “substantial highways work on Pydar Street and St Clement Street to create a low-speed environment”.

The remaining development will then be built over the next five to eight years with further details being provided as it moves forward.

While Cornwall Council is leading the scheme with its development company Treveth the council says that it is “not envisaged” that it will fund the project and is looking to secure funding through private investment and funding.

As the Pydar project moves forward those behind the scheme are hoping that it will make our great little city even better.