The stalled Pydar development in Truro is likely to have its uses before the end of the year – as a car park during the busy Christmas period, writes Local Democracy Reporter Lee Trewhela.

The development was originally mooted to cost £160 million to build, but due to inflation and increased costs that price is now expected to be tens of millions more. Though there’s no sign of it actually happening any time soon.

We reported this week that the council is seeking a financial partner to ensure the scheme is completed. Planning permission has already been approved for 300 new homes, space for 400 students, cafés, restaurants, nature trails, a hotel and other leisure, hospitality and cultural facilities built on the site of the former Carrick District Council offices and other buildings in the Pydar area of the city.

The first stage of demolition took place two years ago and there has been no building work since then, with no signs of any construction to come. The work to clear part of the site led to the loss of three car parks in the city – Pydar Street, Viaduct and Carrick House.

Together with the loss of the majority of the Moorfield multi-storey due to structural concerns, parking has become an issue in Truro and has had ramifications on the wider road network. Last Saturday was a case in point when cars waiting to use the Marks & Spencer car park were queued along Fairmantle Street, around the Morlaix Avenue roundabout, blocking traffic on the A39, which was queued all the way to the top of the Arch Hill roundabout.

There is one slight beacon of light in this sorry saga – it appears a part of the fenced-off area that was bulldozed at Pydar will become a pop-up car park to ease Christmas shopping parking in December.

Truro councillor Rob Nolan aired his frustration this week about the lack of movement with the development, saying it is one of the reasons cited for calls for a vote of no confidence in Cornwall Council leader Linda Taylor.

He said: “The Cabinet are playing all this very close to their chest, which is part of why we’re doing the vote of no confidence; we want more open government and to be part of discussions, if only to be able to tell our residents what’s going on.

“This is a flagship scheme. Redeveloping this area and bringing the university into Truro would be brilliant for our night-time economy and for the vitality of the town. It’s painful to watch the scheme stalling whilst the administration dithers.”

Cllr Nolan added: “All I know is that there are talks about opening up part of the site for car parking over Christmas and that the remaining demolition wont take place until April next year, at the earliest.”

The remaining buildings on site which need to come down include Truro Bowl, Pydar Pop-Up and Circuit House.

In other parking news this week, the local authority announced it will be free to park in all Cornwall Council car parks and to travel on the Truro Park & Ride for three dates in December, including Small Business Saturday.

All council pay and display and pay on exit car parks, as well as the park and ride, will be free on two Saturdays, December 7 and 14, and on Monday, December 23.