Grants for coverting rooms above shops into flats.

We have been reminded by Guy Thomas, Cornwall Council Town Centre Management Specialist, that there are grants available to landlords who want to convert 1st and 2nd floor storage space above shops into social and affordable housing. The grants cover renovation work and the obligation on the landlord is a commitment to allow the premises to be used for social housing for 10 years. 

The conversion of such premises reduces the need to build on green field sites and also has the added benefit of encouraging a stronger footfall in the town centre. The Empty Homes team at Cornwall Council deals with these grants. ian.stackhouse@cornwall.gov.uk

Government contributes to Penzance harbour repairs.

The Government has distributed £1.7 million in small grants to help with repairs to ports and harbours around England.  Penzance Harbour is getting £129,674 to cover part of the cost of fixing the  breach of the sea wall/parapet, loss of fresh water supply and damaged lighting on Lighthouse Quay and, on South Quay, to repair damage to fresh water break tank, cobbled surface and electrical bollards.  The allocation of funds is shown in map – follow link here and click on highlighted ports.

Government announces £7.3 million grant for IOS Link Harbours

The Secretary of State for Transport , Patrick McLoughlin, has confirmed grant funding of £7.3 million towards the £12.8 million scheme to improve harbour infrastructure at both St Mary’s and Penzance. The remainder of the funding is believed to be coming from the EU (ERDF).

The harbour infrastructure works are expected to begin this September and to be completed by June 2015, with the St Mary’s Quay extension to be complete by March 2015 ahead of the summer season.  

EGS Energy Ltd organize geothermal energy visit to Germany.

EGS EnergyLtd, a Penzance based development and consultancy company specializing in geothermal energy, has recently organized a visit to Germany by representatives of Cornwall Council , the LEP, the Eden Project and Geothermal Engineering Ltd..  The visit was hosted by BESTEC GmbH, a world-leading geothermal specialist, and discussed the deep geothermal plants being considered for  Cornwall.  There was also a visit to an operational plant in Insheim.
Business Cornwall news item here 

Fortuitously, Penzance happens to sit above one of the most promising areas in the South West for hot rocks exploitation.

Chamber Meeting 5 Aug (The Workbox - 5.45 pm)

The Chamber will be holding a Committee Meetings on Tue 5 Aug at 5.45 in The Workbox.  Committee Meetings are open to all members to attend.  The main item for discussion is the 2014 Xmas promotion programme.  There will also be feedback from Chamber reps who attended the first meeting of the Town Centre Regeneration Board and feed back from the first meeting between the Penzance business reps and BITC (Business in the Community) Healthy High Streets "champions".

 Minutes of the meeting held on 8 July can be found here:
Agenda (draft) for meeting on 5 Aug can be found here: