Key Milestone for St Ives RFC Town Deal Project: Modern Clubhouse and New Housing Plans Unveiled

The planning application for the St Ives Rugby Club project, aimed at repositioning and refurbishing clubhouse facilities, is now available for public viewing on Cornwall Council’s online planning register, the reference number for the application is PA24/04344. This project is set to provide a modern clubhouse with two full-size sports pitches, catering to both the club and the local community. The application also opens up possibilities for the development of extra care homes and affordable housing on the site.

The project, part of the multi-million pound St Ives Town Deal, marks a significant milestone in its development. The submission of the planning application is a critical step towards delivering much-needed local housing, extra care facilities, and high-quality sports amenities for the community.

Project Details

The proposed plans, developed in collaboration with the Rugby Club, the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and compliant with Sport England standards, include relocating the current clubhouse and training pitch. This move will free up land for the new housing and care units, addressing identified local needs. The site is currently owned by Cornwall Council.

The planning application is hybrid, consisting of a full planning application for the clubhouse relocation and an outline application for up to 50 dwellings and 70 extra care units, including associated open space. The full application provides detailed plans requiring no further permissions, while the outline application establishes the principle for site development.

Community Involvement and Next Steps

The application, formally validated on 31 May, will undergo a full consultation and publicity process involving the public, expert consultees, and other stakeholders. A decision is expected in Autumn 2024. Community members can submit their comments on the planning application via Cornwall Council’s online planning portal  https://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/ or by letter to Cornwall Council Planning Department, New County Hall, Treyew Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3AY.

Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for economy, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “Our role is to support the towns to realise their ambitions for their communities and it’s great to see the plans for the rugby club project have reached this significant milestone. A great deal of work is going on behind the scenes in St Ives to bring to fruition projects which will have long lasting benefits for the local community for years to come.”

Background on the St Ives Town Deal

In June 2021, St Ives secured a Town Deal of up to £19.9 million to fund a range of regeneration projects. This is part of the broader UK Government Town Deals programme, aimed at regenerating towns and driving long-term economic growth through investments in various sectors. Cornwall is unique in being invited to submit proposals for four towns, including St Ives, resulting in a substantial £88.7 million funding from the Town Deals programme.

For more information about the progress of all St Ives Town Deal projects, visit the Town Deal website at www.stivestowndeal.org.uk.