Cornwall Council has revealed its plans for a new base in St Austell which will be located in White River Place in the town centre. 

The council has spent £7.8million on the building which will be home to a number of services.

The former council offices in Penwinnick Road, which had formerly been the headquarters of Restormel Borough Council, were vacated last year and the council has been operating out of Carlyon House in St Austell. But the council is set to move into White River Place as part of its estates transformation plan.

This project aims to reduce the number of buildings owned and run by the council in a bid to reduce running costs but also in recognition of the fact that more council staff are working from home. Plans have been put in place for various towns across Cornwall where the council is looking to sell off sites and create new hubs.

In St Austell the council has acquired a large block in White River Place which is currently home to New Look and Poundstretcher shops. It also includes the former Edinburgh Woollen Mill store and Eden Project Cafe. The planning documents state that the New Look store would be retained under the current proposals.

The planning application details the changes which would be made to the building so that it can be used by the council. Services which will operate from the hub will include – family hub, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, adult education, registrars, Cornwall Council back office, safeguarding, short term enablement and planning service, and parking enforcement.

Some of those services are currently located in other buildings in St Austell – the registrars’ office is located next to Carlyon House whilst the family hub is located in Woodland Road. There is no indication what plans the council has for those buildings.

A design and access statement explains the proposed layout of the hub: “Ground floor – the eastern end of the building will provide an entrance for the adult education and safeguarding teams, providing visitors access and waiting areas, together with shared welfare facilities.

“New Look will be retained adjacent to this, with the remainder of the building providing space for the Family Hub, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, registrars, parking enforcement, shared meeting rooms and welfare spaces.

“A reconfigured entrance will lead to a new welcoming reception area and provide access to the first floor. A link corridor on the southern side of the building will be retained, together with fire escape staircases.

“First floor – The upper floor will comprise the Cornwall Council offices, short term enablement planning service (STEPS) and additional welfare facilities. The remainder of the floor will be retained by New Look and the external plant over the roof space.”

The documents state that, if planning permission is granted, construction work could start in September 2023 and the building could be handed over to Cornwall Council for use in winter 2024.