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Pool Innovation Centre lays foundations for growth
17.02.09
Celebrations have marked the official start of work on the £12 million Pool Innovation Centre in West Cornwall.
Children from nearby Treloweth Community Primary School joined with other invited guests to start digging the foundations of the new centre, which will open to its first tenants in June next year.
The project has been developed by the South West Regional Development Agency in partnership with Cornwall County Council, Cornwall Enterprise and CPR Regeneration, the urban regeneration company for Camborne, Pool and Redruth. It is being funded by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme, and the RDA.
It is one of three innovation centres planned in Cornwall to support entrepreneurs and businesses in their early stages of development. And it will set new standards for 'green' office space in Cornwall, using 60% less energy than a conventional building.
Andrew Mitchell, Cornwall County Council economic portfolio holder, said: "Providing a space for developing businesses to grow is vitally important for Cornwall in general and Camborne, Pool and Redruth in particular. This area has a strong history of innovation and the Pool Innovation Centre will channel and nurture the community’s entrepreneurs. This area was once a driving force of the industrial revolution and there is no reason why it can’t be at the forefront of wealth creation again. We are currently in a difficult economic climate but this building is part of demonstrating our confidence and commitment to the future.”
Theo Leijser, the South West RDA's director in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "We want our fledgling businesses to have the best possible start in life which is why this centre is so important. Along with the two other centres we are planning, it will foster the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Cornwall to raise the quality of jobs and unlock business potential. It is part of a much wider package of business support that is being developed to ensure that Cornish businesses can thrive and prosper, and that’s especially important in the current economic climate.”
David Brewer, chairman of CPR Regeneration, said: "This new centre is about supporting the entrepreneurs of tomorrow and I hope that in years to come the local children who have helped us here today will be starting their own businesses in Pool.
Today marks a huge step forward in our ambition to create many more skilled, well-paid jobs in this area and I’m confident that this will be a landmark building renowned for the innovation that happens within it.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "This high quality workspace, once complete, will support business growth and new business in an area recognised as a priority for Convergence investment. It will include a virtual business incubator which will help develop new business aspirations into commercial reality. Investments such as this are critical in unleashing the economic potential of businesses in Cornwall.”
Thelma Sorensen, chairman of the Cornwall Business Partnership, said: "We have worked closely with our public sector partners and have been very involved in the development of the Pool Innovation Centre to give ambitious young businesses the facilities and support they need to thrive and grow. It will have a huge impact on our ability to nurture new business talent in Cornwall and I look forward to it opening next year.”
The Pool Innovation Centre will provide high quality workspace and business support to start-up businesses with potential for growth, and is forecast to create 130 jobs by 2015. Located on Trevenson Road in Pool, will cost £11.2 million to build and fit out, and a further £700,000 will be invested in specialist, on-site business support.
It will be managed by Cornwall County Council and is backed by £9 million of ERDF Convergence investment, and almost £3 million from the South West RDA.
The centre will use 60% less energy than a conventional office building thanks to a biomass boiler and natural ventilation, with 'wind catchers' on the roof to channel fresh air into the building. Many of the materials are also being sourced locally, including cedar cladding and Delabole slate.
It will achieve a BREEAM excellent standard for both pre and post construction - one of the highest levels of environmental accreditation available for new buildings.
Two other innovation centres are planned at the Combined Universities in Cornwall main campus at Tremough near Falmouth, and at Treliske in Truro. Both are due to start on site this year.
Pool Innovation Centre is to receive investment through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme.
For further information:
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager for the Convergence Partnership Office
01872 223439 / 07973 813647
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
Jason Clark
01208 77900
jason.clark@dca-pr.co.uk
Editors' notes:
- The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It is helping companies respond to the economic crisis and charts a course for recovery. The RDA is developing or expanding initiatives which include: establishing a Business Loan Fund; coordinating the response to large companies in difficulty; preparing for economic recovery.More information can be found at www.southwestrda.org.uk
- The Pool Innovation Centre will be a three storey building with a net lettable floor space of 2,310mē. It will consist of 49 offices of five different sizes, six shared meeting rooms and a conference facility. It has been designed to provide flexible accommodation with units ranging in size from 25mē to 90mē. To help tenant circulation and networking, all central services including reception, meeting rooms, conference facilities, toilets and kitchens will be shared.
- It is estimated that by 2015 the project will have created 130 full time equivalent jobs in the local economy. This includes jobs created within new and growing businesses in the centre and jobs created in the wider economy as PIC tenants purchase products and services from local suppliers.
