Tolcarne Car Park Works Underway Ahead of 1st April Opening

Improvement works at Tolcarne Car Park in Newquay began on 12th January 2026 and are expected to run for around six weeks, with the site set to reopen on 1st April.

The work will resurface the area and reconfigure the site into a high-capacity pay-and-display car park as part of the Mid Cornwall Metro Active Travel project.

Once complete, the upgraded layout will provide around 83 standard parking spaces and between five and six coach bays, significantly increasing capacity near the railway station.

Previously, the site had around 20 parking spaces, meaning the completed works will represent a substantial increase in parking for the Cliff Road area.

Capacity Increased After Business Concerns

The expanded parking provision follows discussions between Newquay BID, local businesses and Cornwall Council.

Due to the loss of some on-street parking around Cliff Road and the station, Newquay BID worked with businesses to challenge Cornwall Council on parking provision in the area.

An agreement was subsequently reached to increase the capacity of Tolcarne Car Park.

Newquay BID said the update was shared simply to keep residents and businesses informed and added that it does not have control over the works.

Works Continuing Around Cliff Road

Ground investigations to confirm the location of underground utilities on Cliff Road are also continuing.

These investigations are required to ensure a safe and coordinated final design before construction begins.

As part of this phase of work, both the bus stop and pedestrian crossing on Cliff Road have been temporarily closed to allow the works to take place safely, with alternative arrangements in place for two weeks.

Further investigations have now been identified, extending the current programme until 10th April. Despite this, Tolcarne Car Park remains on schedule to become operational on 1st April.

Improving Access to the Station Quarter

The changes form part of wider improvements around Newquay’s Station Quarter, connected to the Mid Cornwall Metro scheme.

The project aims to improve safety and access for people walking, cycling and catching the bus around the railway station and town centre. Plans also include widening footways on Cliff Road, introducing a new pedestrian crossing outside Rebellion, extending bus stops, and relocating and extending loading bays.

The current road layout recorded 13 collisions between 2013 and 2022, including 10 involving pedestrians and cyclists.

The wider changes will also introduce additional parking measures, including:

• A new car park that will be free from 4pm to 9am and during winter

• Extended free parking at Newquay Railway Station, increasing from 20 minutes to 30 minutes

• Free on-street parking bays outside Wetherspoons and on Oakleigh Terrace allowing parking of up to one hour

Mid Cornwall Metro Project

The works are linked to the Mid Cornwall Metro, a £56.8 million scheme largely funded through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Rail improvements planned through the scheme include a direct hourly train service connecting Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, St Austell, Par and Newquay.

To enable this, works on the Newquay to Par line include the reintroduction of a second platform at Newquay Train Station, an improved interchange at Par, and a new passing loop at Tregoss Moor to increase the frequency of trains between the mainline and Newquay.

A key part of the programme also focuses on improving access to train stations along the route by foot and by cycle.

More details about the project can be found on the Let’s Talk Cornwall website.

Public Engagement

Plans to improve the area have been publicly discussed since February 2024, when initial details of the Mid Cornwall Metro plans were shared with the local community.

Public feedback was gathered between 8th February and 17th March 2024, with residents invited to comment on early designs aimed at improving access to the station and surrounding streets.

Further design updates were presented at a public event on 24th October 2024, with revised proposals displayed again in July 2025.

In September 2025, surveys were carried out with businesses on Cliff Road and in the wider area to assess the potential impact of the proposed changes. A Business Impact Assessment has since been published.

Anyone with questions or concerns about the works can contact Cornwall Council or Cormac by calling 0300 1234 222 or emailing [email protected].