European Funding Building The Best For The Best
To attract the very best you need to build the very best and that is certainly true at Cornwall’s Wheal Jane Earth Science Park. Beginning in 2013 the former mining site has been redeveloped to create modern office space, laboratories and workshops that are leading to high value employment and business growth. The development was thanks to more than £2m of Convergence Programme European Regional Development Funding and another £1.8m of private sector match funding from the site owners, part of more than £90m of private sector investment attracted during the Convergence Programme.
The Earth Science Park is now home to a cluster of leading and respected specialist businesses with complementary skills and areas of expertise working on environmental, natural energy, minerals and earth science projects.
The site was the former home of Wheal Jane Tin Mine which ceased operation in 1992 after a long and difficult history dating back to the 1800s that was plagued by fluctuating metal prices, drainage issues and associated costs that would eventually render the mine uneconomically viable. Famously, in the early 1990s after the drainage pumping was turned off, the water levels rose and burst the system leading to water pollution throughout the Carnon River and Fal estuary.
Perhaps somewhat ironically Wheal Jane Earth Science Park is now home to businesses that provide services that amongst many things help projects around the world to minimise their environmental impact. They are one of 539 environmental technology enterprises assisted between 2007 – 2013 and the Convergence Programme.
The buildings that were constructed at the Earth Science Park were built to the very highest BREEAM standards. This means the buildings have been constructed to a range of the standards which takes into account amongst other things innovative design, energy use, materials and pollution. In total, the redevelopment created and upgraded 3,264 square meters of floor space, that’s more than six 25m swimming pools.
The work and services undertaken in these building is serving the mining and metals industries around the world. One of the walls proudly displays a map of every country that uses Wheal Jane Earth Science Park and there aren’t many corners of the globe that don’t take advantage of the high quality and high speed service. The businesses in the cluster provide a number of complimentary services. Essentially, the Wheal Jane Group laboratory analyses test samples from potential mining sites identifying what is present in the sample and at what concentration. Wardell Armstrong and SGS Minerals then consider techniques for extracting the desired material and if there are any unwanted materials also present that must also be considered to minimise environmental impact.
At a tangent to the science based services on the site but making the most of the available resources is South Crofty Collection. This small jewellery making business uses the last of remaining tin from the mine to produce unique items from metal which has been mined, smelted, refined and hand crafted here in Cornwall.
The Convergence Programme investment has facilitated a site transformation at Wheal Jane but it’s just the beginning of a very exciting future. The Wheal Jane Group has plans to continue developing the available land at the site. This will continue to deliver services to the mining and metals industry and develop further its already growing links to education both locally and nationally. As the site progresses plans to develop the renewable energy facilities will also be brought to fruition. The site is already home to a solar farm and geothermal heat but the potential addition of deep geothermal and extended solar generation could make the site not only self-sustaining but also an exporter of energy both locally and to the grid.
Julian German, Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy, said “Wheal Jane Earth Science Park is a great example of how investment can help a business to survive and thrive in a changing economy. The businesses are built upon Cornwall’s industrial heritage, providing intellectual capital to many places where Cornish miners were, and still are, active. Given the importance of rare earth metals and the resources we have here, I am sure these businesses will also be providing support to new operations in Cornwall. The BREAAM building provides excellent accommodation for businesses that offer a world class service to international clients. The future of the site and the potential for renewable energy installation demonstrates their forward thinking attitude which will lead to more high value jobs and growth in the economy.”
Bernard Ballard, Director of Property at Wheal Jane Group said, “The support of the Convergence funding at Wheal Jane has been crucial. We could not have created what we have without it. The Baldhu House project has produced not only top quality employment space for our tenants but also created a stunning entrance to the Wheal Jane Earth Science Park, together these have provided a vital launch pad for the further development of this unique economic development project for Cornwall.”
Phil Newall, Managing Director of Wardell Armstrong International Ltd, said “Baldhu House, as the headquarters of Wardell Armstrong, could not be better suited as a mining and renewable energy consultancy. It has transformed the former mine office of Wheal Jane into BREEAM excellent offices with many environmental features such as solar panels, timber cladding and ground source heating.
We look forward to continued growth of staff numbers both in the new offices and our recently refurbished laboratory and minerals pilot test plant (also at Wheal Jane). Our commitment at Wheal Jane enables us to provide excellent consultancy services in the UK and throughout the world as a significant employer in Cornwall.”