Cornwall Council invests in new business space in Pool

Work on a new commercial space for businesses to grow and provide jobs to benefit Cornwall’s residents, has started in Pool. Chi Tevyans or “House of Growth” will join a suite of workspaces commissioned by Cornwall Council. It is the latest Council-led development to meet the needs of businesses who want high quality office space so that they can expand and grow.

The Pool Innovation Centre 2 – Grow On Space project, known as Chi Tevyans, is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and will enable the development of  twelve new office suites. Ranging from 86 to 122 m2, the three-storey building will provide a total of 1,242m2 of flexible workspace enabled with ultrafast ‘fibre to the premise’ technology. Its central location, next to Pool Innovation Centre, provides excellent rail and road connections.

Chi Tevyans will address a gap in the supply of grow on workspace in the Camborne, Pool, Illogan and Redruth (CPIR) area. It will provide infrastructure for growing businesses that need new office space to accommodate their growth, and provide a high quality work environment where businesses can create and develop their products and services. The building will boast the same high-quality environmental standard as other recent workspaces commissioned by Cornwall CounciI, such as the Aerohub Business Park Sector 2 and the Enterprise Space for Advanced Manufacturing, and will be built to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard.

The Cornwall Council led project is being built by Kier Construction Ltd with Mace Group Ltd acting as Project Managers. It is funded by a £2.3 million investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), matched by £1.9 million from Cornwall Council.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2020, with the first tenants following in early 2021. The development will enhance the North Trevenson site, which currently comprises the residential development of Mellior Park, Cornwall College and the Pool Innovation Centre. It is estimated that once the building is fully occupied, the Chi Tevyans project will support the creation of 40 new jobs in the area and contribute £1.5 million to the local economy.

Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for culture, economy and planning Bob Egerton, said: “This new development in a strategic location close to the A30 will offer much needed high quality accommodation for businesses looking to expand. It contributes to Cornwall Council’s strategic aim to increase high wages and high skilled local employment.”

Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership Chief Executive Glenn Caplin, said: “The tech sector is growing in the Pool area and by providing more high quality, fibre connected office space we are supporting the continued growth of this important cluster. I look forward to seeing the first businesses moving in next year.”

Cornwall Councillor for Pool and Tehidy Ward Philip Desmonde, said: “I welcome the news of this new development as there is a shortage of workspace for larger commercial businesses in the Pool area. I look forward to this investment supporting new Cornwall SME’s and talents, and to reinforce the message this area is a fertile place for growth.”

Chris Couch, area manager for Kier Regional Building, said: “We are delighted to be delivering new office space in Pool. Working in collaboration with Cornwall Council, Chi Tevyans will provide first-class facilities for local businesses.

“Over the duration of this project, we will work with our local supply chain, provide training opportunities through our Employment Skills Plan and engage with the local community. We look forward to delivering this new work space that will bring a range of benefits to the Pool area for years to come.”

Please send any enquiry by email to: growthprogramme@cornwall.gov.uk