PRESS RELEASES

The Prince's Regeneration Trust and the Cornwall Buildings Preservation Trust are inviting the public to a Community Consultation and Public Open Evening at The Old Duchy Palace in Lostwithiel on Wednesday 25th November between 4:00pm and 7:00pm.

The event offers the public the chance, for the first time, to view the emerging restoration and regeneration proposals and to express their views to the appointed regeneration team, who along with key stakeholders will be working up design proposals for the building. The event also provides a rare opportunity for the public to view inside the Old Duchy Palace.

The Grade 1 listed building is a unique part of Cornwall’s history. The Duke of Cornwall’s Palace was built at the end of the 13th century as the administrative centre for The Duchy of Cornwall. It fell into ruin after the 17th century and surviving parts of the large Palace were divided up into separate properties. The building known as the Old Duchy Palace was the former Convocation Hall.

The Trust is working in partnership with the Cornwall Buildings Preservation Trust to implement a programme of restoration that will be sympathetic to its historic character and important medieval architecture. The proposals offer a mixed use that enables commercial events to be held in the main hall (conferences/ weddings/ events/ meetings etc) with the undercroft being available for heritage interpretation, supported by compatible retail space. Community groups will be able to hire the main hall.

"It's important that we obtain the public's views and opinions on the proposals to ensure that any new use is supported by the local community. Our aim with the project is to bring significant advantages and opportunities to Lostwithiel, creating jobs, introducing new business to the area for the benefit of local traders and achieving private and public investment," said Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive, The Prince's Regeneration Trust.

Representatives from the Trust, the Cornwall Buildings Preservation Trust and Architects Purcell Miller Tritton, will be giving a presentation and answering any questions at the open evening.

"This is a much loved historic building and we hope to see a large attendance of residents, businesses, community groups and schools coming along to the open consultation to view the regeneration plans. In addition to giving us feedback on the day we would welcome receiving any written support and comment on the new uses," explained Ros.

The information gathered from the consultation event will be used to support the next stage in the regeneration work, which is submitting grant applications for funding to carry out the work and submitting a planning application. Both applications are expected to be submitted in December.

All press releases