Cornwall: Old Helston supermarket to become £2.6m community hub

The supermarket was built in 1985 and operated initially under the Gateway brand before spells as a Somerfield, Coop and latterly Budgens retail outlet

A Cornish community interest company (CIC) has secured £2.6m from Cornwall Council to create a new community hub.

South Kerrier Alliance CIC (SKA) said it would use the money to transform a derelict supermarket in Helston.

It said work on the former Budgens supermarket, which closed in 2017, would begin "immediately".

The aim of the project is to create a space for community-based services and activities, SKA added.

'Delighted'

Its director, David Turnbull, said they were "determined" to make the building "work for everyone in Helston".

"It has taken a huge amount of effort to reach this stage and we're grateful for the work done by the Helston Place Shaping Team," he said.

Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for economy, said: "Getting to this stage reflects years of hard work by the community working alongside Cornwall Council officers and I'm delighted the necessary funding has been secured."

He added residents knew best what their community needed and the plans for the old supermarket site would "make a real difference".

'Huge effort'

Tim Grattan-Kane, of Helston Town Council, said: "At last we are seeing some success. People will be aware that organisations such as SKA, Helston CIC and the town council amongst many others have made a huge effort over recent years to attract funding to Helston.

"We look forward to implementing this and hopefully further projects in the future."

Cornwall Council said £2,131,806 would come from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, while £500,000 was being invested from its own Town Centre Revitalisation Fund.

SKA said it was working with several other community groups to raise further funding to refurbish the lower floor of the building to provide facilities for young people and families.

It said those facilities would be the subject of a public consultation once refurbishment of the upper floor had begun.

The construction works and ongoing management of the completed building would be SKA's responsibility, it added.