New businesses have set up shop in the latest phase of Newquay’s urban expansion.

A nature focussed nursery school and two media businesses that have national attention have opened in the arts and crafts-style buildings at Nansledan’s Kew An Lergh development, which is Cornish for Way Close, the old field name.

Naturally Learning Nansledan is a purpose-built nursery school whilst Beagle Media and Solve digital marketing and web design agency.

Beagle Media’s CEO Harry Anscombe, a former producer at ITN and Channel 4 News who founded the business in 2011, said: “We’re really excited about what’s to come in Nansledan. We’ve arrived at just the right time in an area that already feels like a strong community. We’re delighted to be a part of it. 

“The office is light, spacious and feels like a professional place we can grow into. We love Newquay, so the location is ideal.”

Beagle Media, which makes documentary series for Channel 4, BBC2 and Discovery, is responsible for a series of high-profile programmes, including Cornwall with Simon Reeve and Cornwall Air 999. 

The company employs more than 50 people in London and Cornwall but had outgrown its previous Cornish base. 

Lawrence Harmer is the founder and director of Solve, a multi-award-winning search engine optimisation and web design business. 

The B Corp firm moved from Winnards Perch to Nansledan in 2021, and was previously based in a commercial space near the Shiva Café.  

Their success and growth in clients and staff required a much larger office and so they moved to their new offices in Kew An Lergh.

Lawrence said: “We really like it here. There’s a nice sense of community in Nansledan. Things already feel very buzzy and we’ve had a real taste of what it’s going to become.”

Lawrence said being located in Nansledan was the perfect fit for Solve’s sustainability and eco-focussed ethos.

The firm, which is currently creating the new Nansledan website, says it cares deeply about the environmental impact of the digital marketplace and has planted 12,000 trees so far through an international scheme called Tree-Nation.

Solve’s new offices are already accessorised with around a hundred plants and even a ‘jungle wall’ of green foliage.

Lawrence said: “I like the sustainability aspect of Nansledan that was a big driving force for us being here. It’s a great office space to be in. We feel like we’ve come here at a real pinnacle moment for the business – we’re in the right place at the right time.”

Sarah Hood is pedagogical lead at Naturally Learning, which operates the new nursery.

She said she was thrilled to see the first children – and their parents – enjoying the specially designed indoor and outdoor surroundings.

“It’s been lovely to show families around and finally see children exploring the play spaces,” said Sarah. “We have had lots of positive comments from our neighbours at Nansledan and local families. It’s been a great introduction to the community.”

Kew An Lergh is the first standalone commercial development at Nansledan built directly by the Duchy of Cornwall. Construction saw 16 bore holes, each 130m deep, drilled as part of a ground source heat pump system that will reduce annual carbon emissions by around 84 per cent compared with traditional gas boilers.

Ben Murphy, estates director at the Duchy of Cornwall, said: “It’s fantastic to see these beautiful buildings come to life. We’re expecting a lot of interest in the remaining unit.”