Barncoose building plan awarded 拢6.6m European funding

Image caption, The units have been designed to a high standard of environmental sustainability

An ambitious scheme to build offices and industrial units in Cornwall has been granted European funding.

The 拢13.5m Barncoose Gateway project in Redruth is expected to create more than 170 jobs for the area.

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will provide 拢6.6m with Practical Developments (South West) Ltd contributing the remainder.

It is believed to be one of the largest speculative employment space schemes to be undertaken in Cornwall.

Neil Lindsey from CPR (Camborne, Pool and Redruth) Regeneration said the funding would mean big changes in the area over the next 12 months.

Low carbon units

"This high-quality development will see the creation of sustainable long-term local employment," he said.

"It shows that our hard work behind the scenes in helping to develop projects to secure ERDF Convergence investment is really having a positive impact on the regeneration of the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area."

Nine office and hybrid/industrial units will be built on a 1.37 hectare site near the A30 with direct access to the Barncoose Link Road.

The units have been designed to a BREEAM "excellent"' standard - a measure of low carbon environmental sustainability.

Once the buildings are fully occupied, it is estimated nearly 200 jobs will have been created by 2015.

Carleen Kelemen, director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, described the ERDF funding as a "significant investment" for Cornwall.