Truro Pydar Street development of homes and shops before council

Outline plans for the total transformation of Pydar Street into its own neighbourhood, including homes, shops and leisure facilities, at a cost of around £170 million, have now been submitted to Cornwall Council's planning department.

It marks a major next step in a process that last December saw the council's cabinet members allocating £3 million to fund the next stage, as they agreed a proposed masterplan, outline business case and for an outline planning application to be submitted for the scheme.

Read more: Pydar Street regeneration supported by Cornwall Council

That day is now here, with the full documents available for the public to view and comment on at cornwall.gov.uk

The project centres around 4.5 hectares bordered to the north by the viaduct, Cornwall Council's former Carrick House offices to the west, Pydar Street’s pedestrianised shopping area to the south and to the east by the river and Moresk Car Par.

Currently on the site there are four car parks making up 695 spaces - Pydar Street, Viaduct, Carrick and Moresk - Truro Bowl ten-pin bowling centre, shops along St Clement Street, an NHS office and partially derelict warehouse units.

Pydar Street before and after

The scheme would see all buildings on the site demolished and in their place up to 320 houses would be built - 35 per cent affordable and 65 per cent open market - up to 400 student bed spaces and up to 21,000 square metres of employment space, with a new community venue at its heart.

It would include leisure and office facilities, shops, a hotel, food and drink outlets and buildings for education and innovation, as home to ‘The Hive’ - a new learning and living centre, designed to create jobs in high-growth, high-value business, with a particular focus on digital and entrepreneurial projects.

There would also be up to 180 parking spaces, with improved pedestrian and cycle links, along with new play areas and an overground leats system.

Modern and contemporary views looking from Pydar Street to the viaduct

In documents submitted by specialist urban planners PRP Architects, it is stated: "The proposed scheme will regenerate a run-down area of the city and help create a vibrant new neighbourhood and destination for Truro.

"Pydar Street will deliver new homes, innovative work and learning spaces, together with an exciting riverside park and range of engaging leisure, hospitality and cultural facilities and events."

It says that the area should not be developed in isolation but as part of a long-term masterplan for Truro, while at the same time acting as a "distinct community / neighbourhood with its own identity."

An illustrative view of The Hive

PRP goes on to say: "A transformed Pydar Street will put community back into the heart of the city, with up to 320 new homes and 400 new bed spaces for students different generations can live together and learn from and support each other.

"Thirty-five per cent of these new homes will be affordable, with a mix of housing set in a visually stunning landscape with rooftop gardens, play areas and green spaces.

"The development embraces the idea of intergenerational living, including both student living and later living accommodation in this new urban neighbourhood."

And the firm adds: "The redevelopment of Pydar Street is for everyone - one and all - and the public realm and leisure uses will have a vital role to play in making this happen.

St Clement Street before and after

"Not only will Pydar Street attract more people to live in the town centre, it will play a large role in transforming Truro’s evening economy, as well as creating

year-round and all-weather activities for the city, its residents and its visitors from across Cornwall and further afield."

The public have until Tuesday, July 14 to give their views, with a decision due by the start of October.

An illustrative view towards the viaduct