A proposed new stadium for the Cornish Pirates is set to move a significant step closer by the end of the month, according to the English second-tier Championship rugby union club’s owner, Dicky Evans.
In a statement on the club’s website, Evans said that he expects the land for the multi-sport Stadium for Cornwall to be handed over to the club by the end of July, with work on building the stadium now “within touching distance”.
He said: “I see no valid outstanding reason in the way for the council to pass the land to the Cornish Pirates within the next week or so – certainly by month’s end.
“We want the stadium to be a showpiece sports arena in the future, a must visit place for visitors to Cornwall and Cornish folk alike.”
The venue will have an artificial playing surface and an initial capacity of 6,000, with the potential to be expanded up to 15,000 in the future. Football club Truro City, which was taken over by the Pirates in March, will also play home games at the stadium.
The complex in Threemilestone near Truro will also house a health club and conference facilities.
The £14m (€15.3m/$17.2m) phase-one cost of the project will be shared between the club, central government, Cornwall Council and Penwith College.
Phase two of the project will be financed by a crowdfunding campaign. Members of the public will be able to invest at least £10 into the scheme, with those putting in at least £2,000 securing voting rights.
Speaking about the whole development, Evans added: “This will take a lot more funding than the phase one cost of £14m, which is basically in place and includes outstanding money from the government.
“I have had to agree certain conditions related to the operation of the stadium to include the financial security of the council funding (which will also apply to the government funding) but as this is taxpayer money, we have no problem with this issue.
“Once signed off, we’ll have lift off for fundraising efforts, which are already in the pipeline.”
Image: Cornish Pirates
