§  Work is ongoing across all priority areas for Priority 4 of the Convergence Programme to identify key sites (these range from larger economic framework studies e.g. Bodmin, to more focused employment site identification e.g. Penzance and Truro).  This work is further the the original Strategic Investment Framework (SIF) documents.

Progress on delivering workspace across Convergence Priorities 2 and 4 is good.  Under Priority 2, a significant amount of employment space (over 20,000sq ft) has been contracted with a further 8,500 sq ft endorsed and 3400 sq ft of commissioned employment space.  Under Priority 4, just under 25,000 sq ft has been contracted with a further 35,000 sq ft endorsed and 310,000 sq ft in the process of being commissioned.

§  Despite the economic downturn, Private Sector investment has been strong.  Most emphasis has been on bespoke employment space for growing business.  However, we are also seeing some employment space being built.

§  Significant progress has been made across a number of partnerships e.g. Sites and Premises Group, a subgroup of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum and a wider Infrastructure Group to prioritise and seek partnership solutions to barriers to development e.g. increased collaboration between council departments (e.g. Planning, Economic Development, Property) and the Private Sector.  Also, there is increased collaboration between local partners and the Highways Agency.

This previously formed the basis of the LAA outcome - Econ4. A decision was taken that there was currently no added value from persuing this activity through the LAA and therefore a recommendation was made that this be suspended pending further work in the future.

However, there is a great deal of work ongoing in this area through the Convergence Programme and progress to date is as follows:-

Priority 2:
Contracted:
Cornwall Business Park, Hallenbeagle - 27 acres of serviced employment land. ERDF: £3.9m
Goonvean Park, St Stephens - 11 speculative business units totalling 7,750 sq ft. ERDF: £315k
Spinnaker International, Saltash - expansion of existing premises to provide 7,800 sq ft of additional office and workshop facilities. ERDF: £200k

Endorsed:
ERDF: £700k
Total space:  8460 sq ft

Commissioned:
ERDF: £28m
Total space: 340,000 sq ft 

Priority 4:
Contracted:
Watson Marlow Bredel, Falmouth - 22,000 sq ft. ERDF: £768k
The Elms, Redruth - social enterprise and office space. ERDF: £967k
The Dairy, Knights Warehouse, Penzance - 1,800 sq ft offices. ERDF: £89k

Endorsed:
ERDF: £2.25m
Total space:  35,000 sq ft 

Commissioned:
ERDF: £25m (excludes infrastructure)
Total space: 312,000 sq ft

§         Work is ongoing across all priority areas for Priority 4 of the Convergence Programme to identify key sites (these range from larger economic framework studies e.g. Bodmin, to more focused employment site identification e.g. Penzance and Truro).  This work is further the the original Strategic Investment Framework (SIF) documents.

Progress on delivering workspace across Convergence Priorities 2 and 4 is good.  Under Priority 2, a significant amount of employment space (over 20,000sq ft) has been contracted with a further 8,500 sq ft endorsed and 3400 sq ft of commissioned employment space.  Under Priority 4, just under 25,000 sq ft has been contracted with a further 35,000 sq ft endorsed and 310,000 sq ft in the process of being commissioned.

§         Despite the economic downturn, Private Sector investment has been strong.  Most emphasis has been on bespoke employment space for growing business.  However, we are also seeing some employment space being built.

§         Significant progress has been made across a number of partnerships e.g. Sites and Premises Group, a subgroup of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum and a wider Infrastructure Group to prioritise and seek partnership solutions to barriers to development e.g. increased collaboration between council departments (e.g. Planning, Economic Development, Property) and the Private Sector.  Also, there is increased collaboration between local partners and the Highways Agency.