A project to transform a once-derelict town centre supermarket in Helston into a multi-use community and health facility with support from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme is on course to be completed by July this year.

The former Budgens has been undergoing a complete transformation for the last year as part of the Helston Gateway project spearheaded by the South Kerrier Alliance (SKA) community organisation.

The project is being part-funded with almost £2.75m from the Good Growth Programme, which is managed by Cornwall Council, with a further £500,000 from the council’s Town Centre Revitalisation Fund.

It is being seen as a model for the latest thinking on integrating healthcare into the community through multi-generational, multi-use facilities.

Last summer it was confirmed that the upper floor of Helston Gateway will become a new, purpose-built GP practice, initially supporting the move of patients from the Meneage Street Surgery. With 19 consulting and treatment rooms plus support team rooms, the building also provides substantial expansion capacity to cater for both the current and future health needs of Helston and the surrounding area.

The rest of the upper ground floor hosts three community rooms for wellbeing related activities available for booking on an hourly basis via the surgery reception.

It was recently announced that the new surgery will be named Cober Valley Health. With the facility due to open in a few weeks’ time the project team and Medical Centre staff welcomed Cornwall Council Leader Cllr Linda Taylor and portfolio holder for economy Cllr Louis Gardner to view progress.

Cllr Taylor said: “Helston Gateway is a fantastic example of a community-driven project that has transformed a tired old building into an innovative mixed-use community facility with health and wellbeing at its heart. It demonstrates Good Growth principles in practice, where investment has empowered and enabled local action, delivering an inspirational space that will benefit generations to come. The success of this project is a testament to what can be achieved when communities, local authorities, and funding partners work together.”

The lower ground floor of the Helston Gateway building provides a further huge space for use by the community. Following public consultation in April, plans for this space are well developed and centre around creating youth and family space. This includes a climbing wall, activity space, music practice studio and a multi-use venue area for activities such as skating, concerts, clubs and films.

The South Kerrier Alliance team have been actively seeking funding to complete this remaining part of the building and during the visit it was announced that much of the capital funding needed has now been secured.

SKA has been supported with £200,000 of funding from two local business people plus Helston Town Council has raised £100,000 in grant funding towards the final stages of the build. Combined with Good Growth funding, this enables works to the lower floor to continue, with a target date of July 2025 for project completion.

Helston Gateway has also been built to very high environmental standards, in line with Cornwall Council’s Good Growth principles and drive towards net zero. The combination of solar panels, ground source heating and the creation of a super-insulated ‘building within a building’ means it has achieved an A+ energy rating.

Cllr Gardner said: “It’s vital that we invest in facilities that support young people and families, providing opportunities for healthy and active lifestyles. The forward-thinking Helston Gateway project does exactly that, with a dedicated space for youth and community activities linked directly to health services through the integration of social prescribing within the new medical centre. The building itself is also model of sustainability. It’s fantastic to see this project taking shape and making a real difference to the people of Helston.”

Helston Mayor, Miles Kenchington said: “It is essential that the Town supports this amazing development which addresses the dire lack of community facilities, especially for young people, in Helston and the surrounding area. Helston has the highest proportion of young people of any town in Cornwall, yet we rank extremely poorly when it comes to young people’s amenities and services. Thanks to Town Councillors and staff and the generous support of the local donors in securing the match funding which has helped to attract this significant investment in Helston.”

An agreement has been signed between SKA and The Tide, who currently operate a climbing centre in Wadebridge, to manage the climbing and bouldering centre in Helston. SKA is also working with the charity Young People Cornwall to conduct a series of consultations with young people from across the area to develop the programme of activities and events to be held in the building once it opens in July.

Councillors Guy Foreman and Mike Thomas, who have supported the project since its inception, thanked all involved for the positive way in which Cornwall Council, local community groups and businesses and the Town Council have worked together to secure funding for the project.

Photos: Cornwall Council