Penzance Town Centre Overhaul: What’s Changing and When?

Community Feedback Shapes £6.5M Sustainable Travel Network

Plans to make Penzance town centre more pedestrian and cycle-friendly have been adjusted following extensive community feedback. The £6.5 million Sustainable Travel Network, funded through the Town Deal and Cornwall Council, aims to create safer, greener, and more accessible spaces for residents and visitors alike.

Recent consultations on improvements to Market Jew Street and Market Place led to key modifications, with project leaders responding to concerns raised by local businesses and residents.

Senior project manager Darren Mountford said, “We have listened carefully to the feedback for both schemes and have made changes put forward by local stakeholders, to the designs.”

Changes Coming to Market Jew Street

The revised plans aim to enhance pedestrian zones, accessibility, and streetscape improvements, while maintaining a balance between functionality and aesthetics.

Key updates include:

• A new, shorter pedestrian crossing to improve accessibility for pedestrians and disabled people.
• A realigned entrance to Market Jew Street with additional seating and crossings to discourage vehicle traffic.
• Restoring a loading bay after businesses raised concerns over its removal.

The community broadly supported adding more planting to improve the high street’s appearance. However, questions remain about how additional greenery will be maintained, as local volunteers cannot currently take on extra areas. Discussions are ongoing to establish a sustainable maintenance plan.

While some raised concerns over reduced parking and loading areas, project leaders noted that additional disabled parking has already been introduced in the town centre.

One respondent praised the changes, stating:
“Great idea to make the high street more pedestrian friendly. If anything, it should go further as it will encourage footfall and keep shoppers in the town spending money supporting the retailers.”

Market Place Adjustments

Proposed improvements to Market Place include wider pedestrian areas, better crossings, and new landscaping. Originally, plans included removing the bus layby to create a more open space, but this drew concerns from local councillor Jim McKenna and others about traffic disruptions.

After reviewing feedback, the project team decided to retain the existing bus layby, reducing space for landscaping but still allowing for pedestrian-friendly changes.

A supporter of the improvements said:
“I’d like to say I’m totally behind this development to make this area more pedestrian friendly and accessible. The planned planting looks great.”

What Happens Next?

Details of the revised plans have been shared with the Town Deal working group, which has backed the proposed changes.

Martin Tucker, Chair of Penzance Town Deal Board, said:
“We want to make our streets more attractive, safe and useable for pedestrians and cyclists, but also ensure our Town remains functional for our businesses. The changes which have been made to the plans for Market Jew Street and Market Place will help us to achieve this aim and I look forward to seeing the plans implemented over the coming months.”

Timeline for Construction

• Autumn 2025 – Work on Market Jew Street begins after the summer tourist season, following completion of the nearby Causewayhead Town Deal scheme.
• Market Place improvements – To follow once Market Jew Street works are completed, minimising disruption to the town centre.

The Penzance Sustainable Transport Network has received £3.5 million from the government’s Town Deal programme and £3 million from Cornwall Council, forming part of a wider £21.5 million regeneration package for the town.

Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Economy, emphasised the importance of sustainable travel, stating:
“The council is committed to helping people make greener travel choices and including people who need more support. With funding from us and the government’s Town Deal fund, the Penzance Sustainable Travel Network is a prime example of how we can collectively design spaces that meet all our priorities.”

As final designs are prepared, residents and businesses will be watching closely to see how these changes transform the heart of Penzance.

Photo: Market Jew Street Visualisation