Work to start on St Mary’s cultural centre thanks to £3.4m cash boost
APROJECT to transform the Town Hall on the Isles of Scilly into a focal point for arts and culture has received £3.4 million from the Good Growth Programme.
The Grade II-listed building in Silver Street, Hugh Town, on St Mary’s is one of the latest projects to receive support from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, which is managed by Cornwall Council and funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The cash boost for the Cultural Centre and Museum for the Isles of Scilly means the £15.72m project is now fully funded.
Cornwall Council say it represents a major infrastructure investment for the long-term economic and social wellbeing of the islands, which will create jobs, boost business and celebrate the islands’ environment, heritage and culture.
Led by the Council of the Isles of Scilly and the Isles of Scilly Museum Association, the initiative will restore and extend the building to create a fully-accessible cultural and heritage destination for local people, day visitors and holidaymakers.
The scheme will also include a cinema, theatre, space for musical performances and an island hall and gathering place for the local community.
Its aim is to address a current lack of cultural facilities on the islands, in particular for young people, and concerns around isolation, community cohesion and an ageing population, with implications for the islands’ future economic viability.
A spokesperson said the refurbishment would significantly improve the building’s thermal and environmental performance and reduce energy use, including replacing fossil fuel heating with high-efficiency electric air-source heat pump technology, low-energy light fittings and energy management systems and solar panels on the roof, all contributing towards helping the council of the Isles of Scilly’s meet its net zero carbon commitments.
Employment, skills and volunteering opportunities would be created and the project would diversify and strengthen the islands’ visitor economy, offering wet-weather activities for visitors and supporting efforts to extend the tourism offer into the ‘shoulder months’ either side of the peak season.
The investment by the Good
Growth Programme follows the latest in a series of successful funding bids by the project, which includes £6m in Levelling Up funding from the Government, £750,000 from Arts Council England, £382,000 from the Council of the Isles of Scilly and £4.6m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Good Growth Programme also previously provided £353,000 towards an initial feasibility study to investigate and begin developing the project proposals.
Survey work is expected to start this month and the aim is to have the new centre open by March 2026.
Cllr Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council’s portfolio-holder for the economy, said: “We’re delighted the Good Growth Programme has been able to complete the funding package, which will make this exciting project a reality for the Isles of Scilly. Once complete it will create an enduring social and economic legacy for the islands while celebrating their unique culture and heritage.”
Councillor Tim Dean, lead member for housing and the corporate estate at the Council of the Isles of Scilly, added: “This announcement comes at a very exciting stage of the project, as it means the development is now fully funded. I’m delighted that the value of the project to the islands has been recognised by the Good Growth Programme and that the council is getting such support to make this important new facility a reality.”