Plans have been revealed for the future of Helston's empty Budgens building that would see it retained for the community.

Helston CIC has today announced that one of its Helston Place Shaping project teams has been working for many months to try to secure use of the old supermarket, that used to be operated by Gateway, then Somerfied, Co-op and finally Budgens, before being left empty.

Since then it has been falling into increasing disrepair, having last been used used as supermarket in March 2017, but after many long years of waiting there is now hoping for its future.

The Place Shaping team is liaising closely with Cornwall Council, Helston Town Council and a number of local community groups to develop plans for the building to become a Community Hub.

A formal agreement has been signed and work is underway to identify what facilities would fit within the space and to develop a business plan for its operation.

Proposals such as climbing/bouldering, bowling, indoor sports and activities are being considered, along with the potential for indoor markets, food hub and events as well as cafe facilities.

And it's been said that commercial use, or other services, within parts of the building, especially the lower ground floor, could contribute to the financial sustainability of the project.

David Turnbull, of Helston CIC, said: "It’s been over three years since we first started to investigate the possibility of Budgens as community building and even now the project is still at an early stage.

"Once options have been developed, we will hold a public consultation to seek further ideas and interest.

"We're hoping this will be part of the wider consultation for all of the Place Shaping projects to be held in Helston Guildhall on April 26, 27 and 28.

"Further details will be published in the Helston Packet and on the Discover Helston website as soon as they are available."

Following this stage of the work, the aim is to finalise proposals by July 2022.

The project is one of a number being managed by Helston Place Shaping team, which was awarded £100,000 of Town Vitality Funding from Cornwall Council in June 2021.

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The funding is being used to develop projects including:

• The Cultural Quarter: refurbishment the Market Place and Drill Hall Yard creating an outdoors space for events, markets and community activities

• Finding uses for empty and under-utilised town centre properties such as the old Budgens building

• Improving transport connectivity, especially for cycling, walking and public transport in and around the town

• Plans to improve Helston's main streets, restoring the paths and kennels and making the town centre less traffic dominant

For more information visit the ‘Projects’ page of https://discoverhelston.co.uk