Keeping you informed

FAQ's

WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG TO START CONSTRUCTION OF THE STADIUM?

Gaining Planning Permission and funding of major projects takes a long time. Stadiums need planning permission and raise construction and operating funds.  

Over the years other projects’, competing commercial interests, and their tactical approach of Judicial Review, delayed the original already in place commercial funding of this community project. Planning and legal matters with Cornwall Council also needed to be discussed. There was also the world financial crash and Covid. 

Prior to Covid an approach had been made to Government and agreement for their funding contribution almost reached. This discussion has been reopened and we continue to work with the Government on delivering their ‘Levelling Up’ agenda and UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

WHY DO YOU NEED £14M FROM GOVERNMENT? 

This is a facility largely for the community. The sporting, health and educational facilities it will contain will form the main part of the business model essential to the income to provide this community facility. 

Private funding is already committed to this and match funding from the Government will be required to complete the funding package and allow the business model to be activated. 

WHAT IS DIFFERENT FROM LAST TIME?

Nothing fundamentally, it’s the same core project but it has new health, education and community uses on non match days which make it a better facility for the people of Cornwall all year round. 

These are innovative projects within the stadium. Health is at the centre of the agenda with education also being a very important part of the project. Truro & Penwith College, who are partners in the project, will provide educational facilities including a business centre for investment in Cornwall. 

I’VE HEARD THE BUSINESS PLAN DOESN’T STACK UP, WILL THIS END UP AS AN EXPENSIVE FAILURE?

The business plan was accepted by Government pre Covid, although undoubtedly there were people in Cornwall who expressed concerns based on other major projects which have needed support to stay open.  

The Stadium Partners, that is, the Cornish Pirates Limited which is the football and rugby clubs, with the Truro and Penwith College, have improved the whole project and that has made the business plan more robust.  

The plan has been worked with independent experts from Cornwall who understand the local economy, and national experts who understand specific sectors to make it deliverable, including sufficient profit to reinvest in the Sport Cornwall Foundation and their projects to improve health and wellbeing in the community. 

WHY DOESN’T DICKY EVANS PAY FOR IT?

Mr Evans has used his own funds to pay for much of the development costs so far. This is all ‘at risk’, ie he gets nothing back if it doesn’t happen. He has also committed to a further £2m for the build costs.  

The Stadium is not a private project, it is a community owned asset which has relied on his largesse to reach the current point. 

WHAT BENEFITS WILL THE STADIUM BRING TO EDUCATION, WELLBEING AND THE COMMUNITY?

The stadium provides an important extension to the Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’, Truro & Penwith College. The College is a founding partner and £2m funder to the stadium and will offer courses with professional qualifications, apprenticeships working in partnership with businesses in Cornwall, catering facilities and health related courses.

WILL THE COMMUNITY, CHILDREN, ALL GENDERS AND DISABILITIES BE CATERED FOR AT THE STADIUM?

Yes. The project is led by a diverse team representing the interests of women, people with disabilities, youth and the elderly. Community sport brings people together and gives them a sense of belonging.

IS THE ENVIRONMENT CATERED FOR?

The project will be run on sound environmental and social principles. It will work with the Eden Project’s National Wildflower Centre, to deliver future biodiversity gain. The stadium’s energy, transport and operational strategy will seek to compliment current photovoltaic and geothermal principles.

WILL THERE BE MUSIC CONCERTS AT THE STADIUM?

That is the long term plan and large event organisers have already shown interest in this.

WHEN WILL TRURO CITY FC BE BACK IN TRURO?

Funding is key. The main aim is to build the stadium with the already available private funding together with match Government funding. 

 When that decision is known construction of the stadium can start, or laying a suitable pitch with temporary facilities will be the alternative and can commence sooner. 

WILL THIS JUST BE A STADIUM FOR CORNISH PIRATES?

Far from it. Truro City Football Club will play there more often than the Cornish Pirates Rugby Club. Other sporting teams, including touring sides and local tournaments will have the opportunity to use it.  

With excellent digital infrastructure and a robust all weather surface it will be able to host digital gaming events, concerts for as many as 10,000 people and major indoor and outdoor events.  

WHAT FACILITIES WILL THE STADIUM COMPLEX CONTAIN? 

The facilities break down into four core components: Pitch, Main Stand with ground floor, second floor and top floor.  

On match days it is a sports stadium with concourse, food and drink and VIP hospitality.  

On non match days it is a health and rehabilitation centre, gym, café, event arena, College education building and conference centre.  

WHAT WILL BE IN THE PROPOSED CONCUSSION UNIT, AND, CAN I USE IT?

Advanced technology and concussion management professionals will be based there. This will be available for anyone with a head injury concern. This will not replace GP or hospital care, but add to it.  

IS THE STADIUM FOR ‘ONE AND ALL’?

Everyone in Cornwall and beyond have the opportunity to visit, to take part in something special, be that a business conference, a sports event or a music concert.  

For students studying in the education unit the normal Truro College buses will offer daily transport.  

For specialist sports, or other concussion or rehabilitation needs, this will be more accessible than travelling to specialist medical services in Manchester and London and will be the first in the country for some diagnostic and treatment services.  

WHAT HAS BEEN THE ‘OPPOSITION’ APPROACH TO THE STADIUM AT LANGARTH?

Location, competing commercial interests and traffic congestion.

Location was settled upon following a Cornwall Council funded review of 27 sites across the whole of Cornwall. Langarth was their decision based on a central location for the bulk of the Cornwall population and the available public travel and parking facilities. Additionally road access for the airport and the improved A30 road were also a consideration. 

Initially, the stadium was to be funded by retail interests. This led to competing commercial developments using many tactics, including Judicial Review, to stop the stadium. That source of income is therefore no longer available and match funding from the Government is sought. Once built no public funds will be required as a robust business operating model has been designed. 

Traffic congestion caused by stadium sporting use has been aired as a problem and is considered not to be so due to the limited sporting usage, eg rugby matches will be an around fifteen days a year predominately at the weekend. Likewise, football matches are mostly confined to the weekend afternoon when other traffic use is reduced. Rush hour traffic is during weekdays and at different times to matches, and the park and ride facility is next door for parking.

I MOVED AWAY FROM CORNWALL FOR EMPLOYMENT. WHY ARE THE AUTHORITIES DELAYING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STADIUM AND THE GENERATION OF EMPLOYMENT BY DOING SO?

The Planning process is complicated and many legal areas have to be satisfied. This takes time and is affected by Council staffing shortages, legal argument, objections, and many other things. 

WILL THIS COMPETE WITH OR ENDANGER CORNWALL LOCATED LEISURE CENTRES? 

No, the Stadium will provide an office and funding for the Sport Cornwall Foundation which will run health and wellbeing projects across Cornwall.  

These will be based in Leisure Centres and at playing fields so the activity funded by the stadium will build numbers of people using their local sports facilities.  

WHAT WILL BE THE CAPACITY OF THE STADIUM?

The main stand is intended to have seating for 4,300 people. The ground capacity is 6,000 with later expansion taking it to 10,000.

WHAT ARE THE TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING INTENTIONS?

The principle of the Stadium for Cornwall’s green transport  plan has always been to make maximum use of the existing facilities provided by the Truro Park & Ride . There are 1200 spaces with an extension planned. Buses link Langarth from the city via the railway station. The new Northern Access Road will link this to the improved A30 and A390.

WHAT ABOUT THE STADIUM TRAFFIC?

Maximum traffic flows will be outside normal peak traffic times.