A £10m hub for creative businesses being delivered by Kier in Cornwall has been delayed by another year.
The Penzance Creative Cluster, due to be completed this autumn, will not open until summer 2024.
Cornwall Council said the stoppage was due to “delays in the construction programme”, but stressed its commitment to the project, which it sees as critical to the regeneration of the coastal town.
Kier was brought in last summer to replace collapsed contractor Midas in the scheme.
Construction of the three-storey building was abandoned after Midas called in administrators in February 2022, owing creditors £22m.
When complete, the center is expected to offer 30 modern studios and flexible workspaces for smaller businesses in the creative sector, ranging from digital companies to visual and performance artists.
Cornwall Council has invested £3.5m in the project, while the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) contributed £6.5m.
Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for the economy, said the center was already attracting significant interest from potential tenants and would be completed as soon as possible.
“While I’m sure the news of delays to the opening date will be a disappointment to many in the town, I want to reassure residents that we, and our contractor Kier, are committed to completing this project as soon as possible “, he said. said
“We have already received a lot of interest from companies looking to locate here and we are committed to ensuring that the first tenants are working from the building in the summer of 2024.”
Penzance East councilor Tim Dwelly said that while the delays were frustrating, the project remained vital to the regeneration of the town.
“To revitalize our high streets, we need to bring businesses – and therefore jobs – closer to our cores. That’s why the Penzance Creative Cluster building is so important to the city,” he said.
“Cornwall has more people working in the creative industries than any other rural area in the UK and we know there is an opportunity to grow this sector even further by providing high quality workspace in the city centre.
“While the delays are frustrating, I am pleased to see that the building will be open in the summer.”
Kier has been approached for comment.
