Helston could support new business with Innovation Centre

The town council has agreed unanimously to work with experts over the potential for such a building in Helston.

It would be somewhere that new businesses, or people just starting out with nowhere to develop their ideas, could be based out of without the need to take on a whole unit with rates and other expenses.

At the suggestion of councillor Mike Thomas, town clerk Chris Dawson will now contact Glenn Caplin, who is heading a project at Cornwall Council to set up such centres in towns around the county, to support one for Helston.

Town and Cornwall councillor Mr Thomas said: "We have got the facilities in the town at the moment, in the centre, but it also crossed my mind we have got RNAS Culdrose and they have the capacity to do this, and for us to work with the MoD."

He suggested looking at both empty sites in the town centre as well as contacting Culdrose to see if there was interest.

Councillor Dave Potter, who is also on the new Helston Community Interest Company, said the CIC had looked at three potential shops in the town for such a project, explaining: "It's for people with ideas that don't want to take that leap into business because it's all too big and unknown.

"It wouldn't be a space for them forever; it would be one, two, maybe three years at most."

The CIC had put the idea to Cornwall Council in the hope of getting its backing for a Future High Streets Fund bid to the government, but had been told it was "one of the more difficult ideas", so Mr Potter was fully behind contacting Mr Caplin.

A purpose built Innovation Building has already been given the go-ahead for nearby Porthleven, after Harbour & Dock Company owner Trevor Osborne finally got planning permission on the fourth attempt.

It will be situated in the shipyard and made up office and light industrial spaces on the ground floor, with open plan workspace and studios above, and it is estimated will create between 20 and 70 jobs depending on uptake.