Stadium for Cornwall State of Play

Stadium for Cornwall State of Play

The Chair of the Stadium for Cornwall Board of Directors continues to have constructive dialogue with Cornwall Council about how to realise the vision for a Stadium for Cornwall and progress the transfer of land to the Stadium for Cornwall Community Interest Company (S4C CIC), to allow ground works to commence as soon as possible.

It is the intention of the CIC that the Stadium facilities will be available, from day one, for community use outside match days from September 2023. The Stadium has been staged to allow a rapid development of the pitch and sufficient permanent facilities to allow Truro City Football Club to play there with up to 3,000 fans, with only one more season away from home.

This first stage development will be FA, RFU and RFL^* compliant allowing three professional sports to play there. Fully developed Stadium facilities will be required for promotion of the Cornish Pirates to the rugby Premiership, and a staged plan to reach 10,001 spectator capacity can be geared up quickly once the essential ground works, access and services are in place.

Far reaching community health, education and economic benefits will be delivered through a partnership of public and private sector investors. The Business Case that returns £5.40 for every £1 of public money invested was accepted by central government in October 2021.

Stadium for Cornwall CIC Chairman, Martin Tucker, said;

“Our aim is to deliver a project that matters to so many people; locally in Threemilestone for their grassroots clubs; in neighbouring Truro for their professional football club; and all across the sporting, health, education and commercial landscape of Cornwall for those pushing for better facilities for their fans, patients, students and customers”.

St Austell Brewery President, James Staughton OBE DL and Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Kim Conchie DL were among a group of influential Cornish signatories in a letter to Cornwall Council supporting the Stadium for Cornwall. They said;

“Young people are led by positive role models in sport and the media. The future health of our population rests on the physical and mental health benefits given by increasing activity levels which need to be driven and sustained. The Stadium for Cornwall, even in its first stages, will be a beacon for healthy sporting activity. With the anchor tenant teams opening their doors to allow the public to access their sports concussion technology, even in this first phase, we stand as a County leading the Nation in the welfare of our people”. 

They further went on to say;

“The economic argument is undeniable. All-weather, multi-games pitches are under supplied and those that exist over booked. The levels of sustained employment over the years of development and operation, the draw for economic investment in sports competition, hospitality and conferencing will significantly benefit the population and business community of Cornwall”. 

*Football Association, Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League

Additional info available on the Stadium for Cornwall website: www.stadium4cornwall.co.uk