Architecture students from Falmouth University are helping to create a vital new community facility for Truro residents.

The first and second year students are working with All Saints Highertown and local architects Lily Lewarne on their 10:10 project: a new community hub building. They visited the church this week to display their designs, and to receive feedback on their ideas before the final plans are drawn up.

Once completed, the new building will provide community facilities for the ever-growing population in the local area. The Rev Jeremy Putnam said: “The overwhelming theme of the project, and the reason it is called the 10:10 project comes from John 10:10, which says ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’, and that is what we are seeking to build here.

“At the moment, living in a time of austerity, all we seem to hear about is cuts and the loss of facilities. This is about us saying we are taking back control, and that we are going to do something to really impact the lives in our community.”

Frances Crow, senior lecturer at the university, said: “We spent about six months working with the church beforehand, and then brought the students here for two sessions, talking to everyone and taking a look around. We then came away with a brief, and they have spent five weeks developing a response, which has been built around a real focus on the community who will use the new building.”

Jess Fairlie, a second year architecture student, said: “It has been a really good project, it is a really interesting community space, and it has been really inspiring.”

Freddie Hutchinson, also a second year student, added: “The best thing about this project is that it has been so realistic, because you are restricted by having a building here already, and there is a lot more context to think about, especially around funding and the needs of the community.”