Work has now started on the three residential blocks paving the way for 70 apartments within St Austell's £75 million town centre regeneration scheme, which is due to open this autumn.

Sir Robert McAlpine, the main contractor appointed by the South West RDA for White River Place, has begun to erect the three-storey building on South Street which will be followed by the construction of the two residential blocks on Trinity Street from mid-February.

£31.5 million is being invested in the project by the South West RDA with the rest of the funding coming from White River Developments Ltd. The reinforced concrete frame for the underground 550 space, three-storey car park and retail unit is due to be completed by the end of next month.


Two-storey steel frame structures forming the retail units from the newly formed streets (adjacent to Trinity Street and next to White River Cinema) are progressing well on schedule and it is anticipated that these steel structures will be fully erected by mid-February.

Roof coverings and external wall finishes will start in early February and continue into the summer months.

Mechanical and electrical installations are currently being installed in the car park together with the construction of block walls to form the main loading bay for retailers, off Trinity Street.

Work to connect drains and new services in both Trinity Street and South Street are also due to be carried out.

Phase one of the scheme is now complete with the official opening of the four-screen White River Cinema before Christmas.

The next retailer to open within the same building will be Frankie and Benny's - the New York Italian restaurant and bar.

Others confirmed for White River Place include coffee shop Starbucks, fashion outlets New Look and Peacocks, high street bank HBoS and garden and home store Wilkinson. There will be a mix of shops, residential accommodation, restaurants, cafes and bars once complete in the autumn.

(JM/BMcC)