Communities, residents and businesses are seeing the benefits of millions of pounds of investment from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth programme as it marks first anniversary.
It was on 5 December last year that the Government formally approved the £137.6m Good Growth Investment Plan put forward by Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.
Since then, a total of 134 projects valued at £193m and aimed at boosting communities, businesses and skills across Cornwall and Scilly have been approved for £130.7m of investment. Of those, 20 projects cover all of Cornwall and 37 all of Cornwall and Scilly.
Approved projects range from small, community-led schemes to improve streets, villages and towns, through to multi-million-pound investments in culture, heritage and the future economy of Cornwall and Scilly, such as tech metal mining and offshore renewable energy.
Every application has been judged against a set of Good Growth principles aimed at delivering clean and inclusive economic growth. These include cutting carbon dioxide emissions, improving skills, boosting environmental growth and more people earning the Real Living Wage of £12 an hour.
The Good Growth programme is managed directly by Cornwall Council and funded with £132m from the Government’s £2.6 billion Shared Prosperity Fund, which aims to help level up communities across the UK, and £5.6m from the Rural Prosperity Fund.
The Government deadline for the money to be spent by successful projects is March 2025, which means Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are well on track to spend their allocation.
Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for economy, said:
“The Good Growth programme is realising the potential of people, places and businesses across Cornwall and Scilly and I’m delighted that we have been able to make such progress.
“From small grass-roots community projects to major strategic investments in emerging key sectors, the Good Growth programme is investing in the future to make our economy more equal, more resilient, and more prosperous. Our focus is already turning to what happens after March 2025 so we can continue to attract much-needed Government investment.
“The Good Growth Team will now be focusing on assisting those projects already approved to draw down the cash and deliver on their aims to maximise positive outcomes for the benefit of the people of Cornwall.”
Although most of the current funding allocation is now earmarked for approved projects, Councillor Gardner said millions of pounds was still available for businesses and locally-based community projects with grants from £5,000 to £200,000 available.
Good Growth funding opportunities He also said that the current investment programme had been three times over-subscribed, having received 471 applications for a total of £441.5m of investment from an initial 1,395 expressions of interest. Of those not approved, most did not progress due to a number of eligibility reasons, but the intention is to build a pipeline of projects for future funding opportunities.
Among the funded projects that have already been announced are:
- £4.7m package of investment into Cornwall's technology metals industry across a range of projects designed to unlock thousands of jobs. Projects include a critical minerals processing and testing facility, the creation of a geo=resources cluster development body and feasibility studies to support the planned reopening of South Crofty tin mine. The Government has identified Cornwall’s resources as nationally important to the UK’s future green growth and for a raft of industries, from car making to electronics and defence.
- £3.34m investment in boosting construction skills across Cornwall and Scilly. The project involves Cornwall Council, the Cornwall College Group and Truro and Penwith College. It includes investment in new facilities to provide more education and training in the construction industry on college sites in St Austell, Camborne, and Truro. It will work with people of all ages to create opportunities in the construction sector and focus on the growing demand for green construction skills as part of the drive to net zero.
- £1.35m for Penzance-based charity Trelya to create a community skills hub at its Lescudjack Centre headquarters in the town. The award-winning charity helps local people overcome barriers to work, wellbeing and equality and works with some of the most challenged communities in England.
- £600,000 investment in Saltash-based high-tech company Secure Innovation which uses space technology to protect cash and high value assets for customers around the world. The investment will support growth and create 20 jobs, and help the drive towards net zero with the installation of solar generation, electric vehicle charging points.
- £60,000 to St Mewan Parish Council near St Austell to create the Queen Eilzabeth II Memorial Garden for all the village community to enjoy. Completed this year, it includes a sensory garden and outdoor gym equipment and aims to tackle social exclusive and health issues.
- £395,650 investment to grow Cornwall’s screen sector including an extended outreach and talent development programme to offer people from a diverse range of backgrounds the chance to take their first steps in the industry.
- £150,000 towards an £850,000 project to dredge the historic Bude Canal and harbour, both of which are iconic landmarks and support a wide range of land and water-based activities. The dredging will reinstate a safe navigable depth for watercraft while maintaining the canal’s essential flood defence function.
- £855,451 investment renovating Liskeard Library to create a multi-purpose building for a range of community uses. It is among a number of historic buildings paid for by philanthropist John Passmore Edwards that are being renovated and transformed by the Good Growth programme for community use, including the former Redruth Library (£600,000 SPF investment) and The Old Library in Bodmin (£180,000 SPF investment).
- £353,032 investment towards the creation of the proposed Isles of Scilly Museum and Cultural Centre in the Grade II listed Town Hall on St Mary’s. The funding will enable architects, designers and engineers to produce the technical plans required to construct the facility which is intended to become a versatile community hub for events, festivals, theatre, music, cinema and dancing.
- £260,634 investment in the Cornwall Heritage Trust which has protected and championed Cornwall’s unique and distinctive heritage for almost 40 years. The project includes an education and outreach programme for schools, youth groups and local communities, and to develop more skills and training opportunities across its 13 historic sites including the Treffry Viaduct near Luxulyan, Castle an Dinas at St Columb Major and The Hurler Stone Circles near Bodmin Moor.
- £70,000 in North Cornwall to establish the North Kernow Community Housing land trust in order to provide genuinely affordable rented housing for local people. The trust is working with residents from northern parishes in Cornwall to create solutions to local housing challenges.
- £135,000 for the Cornish Pilot Gig Association to develop the calendar of gig racing events that take place around the coves, harbours and beaches across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The project will support gig clubs in the delivery of diverse, community-led events.
All funding decisions by the Good Growth programme are made locally by an Economic Prosperity Board which is made up of elected members from Cornwall Council and the Council of the isles of Scilly. Cornwall Council has been chosen by Government as the lead authority for the fund which is being invested in accordance with the
Good Growth SPF Investment PlanTo find out more visit
Story posted 12 December 2023
