Project will 'transform' Grade II listed building

A spokesperson for Truro Community Hub project said funding had been released to start work on a Grade II listed church

Work on a community hub project set to "transform" a Grade II listed church in Truro is set to start next year.

Phase one of the project, which aims to create more community space for local groups, involves a "three-storey extension" of the existing buildings at the rear of the Truro Methodist Church.

Further phases of the Truro Community Hub project are due to include a new entrance to the side of the building and a new community cafe.

The Reverend Mark Dunn-Wilson, the church's minister, said he believed the hub would make a positive difference to the community.

He said: "Moving forward the hub will be adopting the name Kemeneth - which means community in Cornish - as a clear statement of the commitment of the project to serve local groups and people."

The group behind the project said construction of the new building was due to start in late spring 2025 and be completed by March 2026.

It added: "The existing facilities within the Methodist church will continue to be available during the construction period."

'Increasing demand'

The Town Deal grant will go towards building the extension, which will provide an additional 140 sq m (1,500 sq ft) of community space and new toilets.

"More than 114 local groups use the church’s meeting rooms currently, with increasing demand for availability," a spokesperson for Truro Community Hub added.

It said Truro Town Deal awarded the project £952,000 and had released £549,000 to start the work.

Cornwall Council has invested £500,000 into the project.