After 18 months of development work and consultations, on 15th February 2018 Cornwall Council voted overwhelmingly to approve the plans for Penvose Student Village. This development will help to provide a comprehensive solution for housing a large part of the student population, for the benefit of Falmouth University and for the residents of the local area.
Within Falmouth and Penryn there are 8,000 students, who currently occupy 10% of all available housing in the area. Furthermore, within the rented sector, students account for around 50% of all housing. This illustrates the pressure in the system, which could not be solved successfully by piecemeal solutions. With the successful growth of Falmouth University, these pressures could only increase.
Penvose Student Village demonstrates the value of have a strategic vision which addresses local needs for well into the future. By accommodating students in this way, it will help to make more housing stock available for use by local families.
The village will be situated between Treluswell and Treliver roundabouts and will provide 2,000 beds for students. The accommodation will be configured to appeal to both undergraduates and post-graduates and will be designed to minimise its overall impact on the landscape. It will include a 474 space park and ride facility, as well as 323 parking spaces for students, a university study hub and a social hub.
The plan takes into account the wider needs of students, with a pub/restaurant, a retail parade that includes a small convenience store, a doctor’s surgery and a day nursery. It will also provide sport and leisure facilities which include changing rooms, squash and tennis courts and a multipurpose all-weather pitch. There will also be a budget hotel on site, with 62 rooms to accommodate visitors to the university.
CAD Architects has worked hard to consult as widely as possible and to seek input from all local stakeholders. We are grateful to Save Our Falmouth, Save Kernick Industrial Estate, Smithick Ward Residents Association, Falmouth Town Council and other local groups for their strong support. It is rare for a development of this kind to receive such wide support from the public.
At CAD Architects, we are looking forward to bringing the scheme to fruition and to making it an exemplar in its field.