The scaffolding is down and preparations are underway for the opening of the new Pixel building Penzance in the new year. 

The three-storey state-of-the-art building on Causewayhead is to be the home of the Penzance Creative Cluster.

It will offer more than 1,500 square metres of studio units and tenancies for a range of creative businesses – from visual artists and potters, to architects and digital media companies.

The project was delayed following the collapse of the construction company Midas in 2022, with contractor Kier Construction Ltd stepping in to complete the project.

The internal works have now been completed, with the final external works now being undertaken. Pixel is expected to be fully operational and open to users in January 2025.

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Cllr Tim Dwelly, Cornwall councillor for Penzance East, said: “Residents and businesses have understandably been frustrated by how long this project has taken. But it's great news for Penzance that these long-standing plans are finally coming to fruition.

“I am delighted to hear about the strong demand from creative business and artists to move in and work in the new studios.

"The whole project was always designed to attract more people into Causewayhead to work and to shop, creating a real buzz in the area.

"This is about Penzance having greater high street vitality. Too many workspaces in the past have been located on business parks and campuses. Penzance deserves and will benefit from this boost."

He went on to say that Penzance had "worked as a team" to make the project possible, but particularly thanked Cabinet member for economy Louis Gardner for "sticking with us even when the development faced a major challenge when the original contractor Midas went bust."

A previous computer generated image of how the building would look (Image: Cornwall Council) Cllr Dwelly added: "Now we need to focus on improving the public realm at the top of Causewayhead to improve the whole street scene at this gateway to PZ."

The building will be managed by Forward Space, one of the leading operators of shared workspaces in the south west. They are now taking enquiries for the space.

The work has been funded by Cornwall Council, the European Regional Development Fund and Government’s Future High Streets Fund. 

Gavin Eddy, CEO of Forward Space, said: “We are very excited to be taking the reins at Pixel. 

"Penzance already has a huge amount of creative talent, and Pixel represents an opportunity to bring that community together in a physical space. We are looking forward to opening the doors and making Pixel the community of creators that we know it can be."

Further information about the space can be found at the Pixel Penzance website.

More work will begin in January on and around Causewayhead, funded through the Penzance Town Deal funded Sustainable Transport project. This will deliver new road crossings as well as public realm improvements.