Bodmin is a designated growth area for Cornwall but its town centre has suffered from a lack of retail investment and a resultant loss of trade to competing centres. Working with GVA Grimley our Framework identified new development opportunities, a public realm strategy to reinforce the existing centre and created an integrated strategy to deliver new shops, offices, apartments and community facilities.

Fore Street, the prime retail area, is an attractive historic street but is narrow, congested and constrained. There is retailer demand but few vacant units. Shoppers are concerned about safety and the lack of an evening economy, whilst retailers are concerned about the accessibility of the centre. Away from the core shopping area, there is limited pedestrian flow and limited demand from retailers and development has been concentrated in out-of-centre locations.

Our proposals create a retail-led, mixed-use, destination with the critical mass to attract new investment and a pedestrian circuit which reinforces the existing shopping area of Fore Stree.

A mix of large and small shops meet demand from national and independent retailers, whilst value and vibrancy is added through residential, office and community facilities. New car parks are located in areas which can serve new and existing shops, whilst a new hotel, better links to tourist destination and new public spaces improve the offer for visitors as well as residents.

Consensus was generated through workshops and a public exhibition and a more detailed delivery and feasibility strategy has just been commissioned by North Cornwall District Council and SWRDA.

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