Inside redevelopment of Helston’s former Budgens supermarket

In February it was revealed that the South Kerrier Alliance CIC (SKA) had been successful in raising £2.6 million to acquire the building and refurbish the exterior and upper floor, with a target completion date of March 2025.

Now work is well underway on the building, with the former supermarket interior completely stripped out and rooms being built in the space.

Rooms are being built on the upper ground floor level (Image: NQ staff)

Large picture windows are also being added into the walls – including where the fruit and vegetables were once shelved – to give much more light and views across the valley.

The former external entrance structure is due to be removed in the next week or two.

Lease negotiations are ongoing with potential tenants for the upper ground floor level, which will be entered via what was previously the main supermarket entrance.

A layout for the rooms (Image: NQ staff)

Income will then help support the development and running costs of the lower ground floor level, to the right of the main Trengrouse Way car park entrance - previously used for storing stock for the supermarket and to now be developed into a range of community facilities.

The whole building will operate on a not-for-profit basis, ensuring that all income is re-invested into the building.

You can see the difference to what it looked like in May 2022 here: First look around Helston's empty Budgens in five years

A large picture window is due to be made in the wall where the fruit and vegetable aisle used to be (Image: NQ staff)

An open event to have a look around and share ideas on what these facilities should be on the lower ground floor level is taking place next Saturday, April 13, inside this lower ground floor area, between 12 noon and 5pm.

With previous consultations all indicating that more is needed in the town for children and teenagers to do, it is particularly hoped that this age group will come along to say what they would like to see done from the space – from primary school age up to older teenagers.

Previous ideas raised in sessions with schools and youth groups have included a graffiti room, music practice room and recording studio.

The lower ground floor level to be developed for community uses (Image: NQ staff)

There will be activities to try out on the day, including parkour, skating, circus skills and a graffiti wall, while everyone who fills in a questionnaire will get a free slice of pizza.

Jonathan Kearsley is project manager for the redevelopment, on behalf of SKA.

He said: “Kids are keen for something that doesn’t cost a lot of money, so we’re really keen to listen to them.”

Plenty of height on the external wall still - maybe for a climbing wall? (Image: NQ staff)

David Turnbull, director of SKA, agreed: “It’s not up to us to decide, it’s for the people of Helston to decide.”

Once firm ideas are in place, funding can then be applied for to pay for the different projects – although this can be done in stages, and support from local businesses could help see results even more quickly.

“If we had £100,000 we could make an area that’s useable,” added David, although actual figures on funding needed will depend on the projects taken forward.

The front entrance of the supermarket is due to be removed this week (Image: NQ staff)

There is already a large amount of local involvement, with many Cornish companies supplying materials. A good number of the workers carrying out the development on the upper ground floor level are from Helston and the surrounding areas, and are passionate about seeing it through to completion.

In the meantime, there is now CCTV in place and alarm systems both inside and outside.

Inside what will eventually become a room (Image: NQ staff)

Although March 31 next year is the final completion deadline, Jonathan hopes to get to a stage by Christmas where only painting and decorating is needed on the upper ground floor.

Funding the project is £2,131,806 provided by Cornwall Council from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, which it manages, and is funded through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. A further £500,000 is coming from Cornwall Council’s Town Centre Revitalisation Fund.

The supermarket is looking very different (Image: NQ staff)

SKA, who built and operate The Old Cattle Market building, and manage Coronation Park, is leading the project.

It builds on initial work done by Helston CIC and the plans developed through the Helston Place Shaping Board in 2022, when the Helston missed out by a whisker in its bid for £17 million of Levelling Up cash to transform the town centre – with the former Budgens building one of the intended projects.

Lots still to be done (Image: NQ staff)