The iconic Market House in Penzance is set to undergo a major renovation that will create a vibrant new hub for the local community and visitors.  

The Penzance Regeneration Company (PZRC), a not-for-profit company established by the Penzance Town Deal Board, bought Market House last year with a vision to revive this much-loved building. 

The transformation will be achieved through an extensive programme of repairs to be carried out and paid for by Lloyds and a redevelopment by PZRC of the vacant east end of Market House to create a world class inspired community and food hub using money from the government’s Town Deal Fund.  

Market House will shortly be encased in scaffolding which will stay in place until next spring whilst Lloyds repairs the outside of the building.  

PZRC has been working with its development manager Treveth; Architects Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole; and Design Advisor Hemingway Design on designs and costings for the east end redevelopment. 

PZRC hopes to apply for planning permission early next year and start building works in the spring. 

PZRC will be holding two public events in Penzance town centre on December 2 and 16, venue to be advised, to showcase the concept designs for Market House, inform people about what’s planned and how food hubs have helped to regenerate other towns and cities.   

People will also be able to see some amazing vintage images of Market House. 

Susan Stuart, a director of PZRC, said: “We believe that the Market House project has huge potential to help revitalise the town centre, support new businesses and benefit the local community and economy, as well as attracting more visitors.  

“We invite everyone to join us at our public events and find out more. We also would like to take this as an opportunity to capture everyone’s memories of Market House in particular what went on inside, whether that was decades ago or in its last few years in the 1990s.”    

Market House is funded by the UK Government’s Town Deal programme as part its Levelling Up initiative.  

Penzance Town Deal Board in partnership with Cornwall Council successfully bid for a Town Deal worth £21.5-million to support seven capital projects. 

These projects aim to contribute to the town’s regeneration and boost the local economy by creating jobs, supporting businesses, improving sustainable travel and enhancing local assets. 

For more information on Market House and Towns Fund funded projects in Penzance and Newlyn visit:  www.penzancetownfund.co.uk