A £2 million project creating a new business park and car park on the outskirts of Porthleven has got underway.

The work at Tolponds is being led by Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company, with this the first of two phases of work on the site.

It will initially create workspace for 40 jobs across three business units, in a bid to diversify Porthleven’s seasonal, tourism-led economy.

It has already been announced that Origin Coffee will be moving its factory and headquarters from Helston to the site.

The units will also see the relocation of the existing metalworks and car repair business from the shipyard in the centre of Porthleven to further out the village.

The scheme includes 40 public car parking spaces and a cycle hire scheme, aimed at reducing congestion in the village that gets very busy in the summer months.

The £2 million project includes £700,000 from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

This is money from the government’s Local Growth Fund, with the remaining £1.3 million coming from the Harbour and Dock Company owned by Trevor Osborne.

Rob Moore, from the company, said: “We’re delighted to be delivering a project that supports local employment and brings beneficial change to Porthleven for residents and visitors, and we are grateful to the LEP for its investment.

“We have secured leases with three businesses on the site and we are now actively exploring opportunities for the delivery of the project’s second phase, which will deliver more car parking and workspace, alongside a community facility which we are currently working up.”

Planning permission has already been granted on a site bordered by Tolponds Road and the B3304 on the northern edge of the town, and work to prepare the site started last week.

West Cornwall MP Derek Thomas, whose constituency includes Porthleven, said: “Job opportunities that extend beyond the typical visitor season in Porthleven are always welcome as they enable more local people to stay in the area, work in the area and raise their families in the area.

"This is essential for local growth and will build confidence for others to invest in Porthleven.”

The investment has also been welcomed by Minister for Local Growth Jake Berry and Glenn Caplin, chief executive of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, who said: “This is an important project for Porthleven that will provide year-round employment and help local businesses to become more productive by offering them modern workspace that meets their needs and helps them grow.

"It will also reduce car journeys and congestion in the town centre with better connectivity on foot and by bike, and that’s good news for residents and visitors.”

Truro-based RHOS Construction have been appointed to build the project, which is expected to be completed in the autumn, with businesses moving in before the end of the year.