Brand new workspace for small businesses is being built near St Austell with the support of more than £314k of ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence investment.
The project – Goonvean Yard Industrial Units –which is aimed at new start or small light industrial companies will total more than £785k. The investment by Goonvean Ltd, which is providing the rest of the finance, will create 11 high quality industrial units totalling 720 sq m, situated between St Stephen and Nanpean, in the Clay Country. It is estimated that when occupied 25 full time jobs will be created.
Andrew McGowan, Goonvean’s managing director said: “We are delighted that we have the support of the ERDF Convergence fund for this initial project, which fulfills the joint aims of allowing us to utilize our existing land holdings in the clay district to best effect, and also to provide opportunities for new embryonic businesss within the clay district of mid- Cornwall.”
Carleen Kelemen, director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “The Clay Country around St Austell is one of the areas targeted as a priority for Convergence investment to regenerate the economy. This ERDF Convergence investment in much needed industrial units will help support the creation and expansion of small businesses and jobs.”
Ian Whale, infrastructure manager at the South West RDA, which handles applications for ERDF Convergence investment for workspace gap funding, said: “Demand for quality workspace in Cornwall continues to be high and despite the downturn we’re seeing a lot of interest in the support that Convergence investment can provide for the right projects.”
It is estimated that the units will be completed by April 2010. Flexibility is integral to their design so units can be combined or altered according to the business’ needs. The units will also unlock the economic potential of an underused brownfield site.
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