An ambitious restoration project worth half a million pounds is to begin in Helston.

The Cornubian Arts and Science Trust (CAST), which owns and runs the arts building at 3 Penrose Road, has been awarded £500,000 by Arts Council England. 

It will use this to upgrade the public areas of the building on the ground floor, making it more accessible and bringing the old Green School assembly room back into use, as well as upgrade the community café.

The work will be in preparation to host elements of a three-year contemporary art programme called Groundworks, for which it received a £500,000 grant in January 2016.

CAST chair Teresa Gleadowe said she "honestly didn't know" if the bid would be successful, but added: "It's just amazing. It's perfect timing. The building just needs more than we can do on a day-to-day basis."

The project has received the support of Helston Town Council, which promised a £5,000 grant to support the funding bid.

Member agreed to include half of the required money in its 2018/19 financial budget and the remainder the following year, after hearing that CAST would not need any funds until April 1, 2018.

Phil Gibby, from Arts Council England, said: "We are delighted to be making an award of £500,000 from our Capital programme to nurture the already successful and popular visual arts in West Cornwall.

"This investment supports the cultural infrastructure of the area and will be a community and artistic hub for Helston."

  • More in tomorrow's edition of the Helston Packet.