Options & FAQs.

Read about the different options and have some of your questions answered here.

Programs

What the car park could be?

It's important for community to be at the heart of this project. We're sharing some ideas on what the options could be. We welcome your views and thoughts.

Option 1

This proposal can be considered “light-touch” as it introduces some temporary structures and space for cafes and events. Key features include:

Remove the car park and utilise the space for temporary events.
Allow car access and parking outside of 11am and 4pm / winter months
Consider pop up restaurants, cafés and bars
Consider markets and music events on the lower car park.
Consider re-marking the existing surfaces to update parking layout

Option 2A

This proposal involves building on the periphery and introduces permanent, low-rise structures, such as:

Continue the terraced street and embed the sub station into a ground floor with gated access to hide it.
Buildings would have commercial uses on the ground floor
A new Maritime Office building for the pontoon access, with facilities including toilets, showers, stores, reception/office
Retail / leisure and first floor offices

Option 2B

This proposal involves building on the periphery and introduces permanent, low-rise structures, such as:

Continue the terraced street and embed the sub station into a ground floor with gated access to hide it.
Buildings would have commercial uses on the ground floor
A new Maritime Office building for the pontoon access, with facilities including toilets, showers, stores, reception/office
Retail / leisure and first floor offices

Option 2C

This proposal involves building on the periphery and introduces permanent, low-rise structures, such as:

Continue the terraced street and embed the sub station into a ground floor with gated access to hide it.
Buildings would have commercial uses on the ground floor
A new Maritime Office building for the pontoon access, with facilities including toilets, showers, stores, reception/office
Retail / leisure and first floor offices

Option 3

This proposal involves building more structures than Option 2 however these will continue to be temporary or be portable This includes:

Use of light weight structures, such as shipping containers
Introduce a flexible layout to allow for event spaces on the upper deck car park.
Restrict all buildings to 2 storey
Ground floor uses will be a mix of retail/food and beverage and the first floor commercial
Cycle and events storage
Allow for disabled parking in winter months only

Option 4

This proposal involves building permanent structures across the entirety of the site with designated public space for events and celebrations. This includes:

Utilise the level difference to create better accessibility to the water
Event spaces on the upper deck car park
Restrict all buildings to 2 storey
Ground floor uses will be a mixture of retail/food and beverage and first floor commercial
Cycle and events storage
Allow for disabled parking during winter months only

Contact

Option 5

Help us create a fifth option that is different from options 1-4. You can take inspiration from waterfront sites across the UK and around the world. Some potential key features could include any and/or all components:

An extended pier with public park
A piazza
A family-friendly outdoor sports area for things like

cycling and entertainment
A covered structure for events, such as community talks, film screenings, and arts and culture
A hotel with outdoor seating and views of the waterfront

Frequently Asked Questions.

We know you may have questions about this work and how it could impact you. We've set out answers to our most comment questions below. For anything not covered here, please email us at info@churchstwaterfront.com.

What is the impact to parking at Church St car park?

There are currently no plans to close the car park or reduce the number of spaces. This project is still in its very early stages, and any changes to car parking in the future will be done in consultation with local businesses, residents, and community groups.

It is understood that the potential loss of a car park could cause some challenges for residents, but transportation and access issues will be resolved before any option is pursued.

Why can't Church St car park remain a car park?

Church St Car Park can and will remain a car park for the foreseeable future. However, it is unlikely that the car park will be allowed to continue as a car park if it is transferred to Falmouth Town Council under their ongoing devolution talks with Cornwall Council. The purpose of this consultation is to explore the future possible uses of Church St Car Park for the ongoing economic and environmental sustainability of Falmouth town centre should the car park be transferred to Falmouth Town Council.

When does construction begin?

The five options being presented are just options at this stage and have been designed with input from Falmouth’s Place Shaping Board to give some focus to the discussions. However, they are by no means set in stone. Any construction designs are only suggestions, and no designs or options have been agreed upon at this stage by FTC or its partners on the Place Shaping Board. Any future construction work would be subject to the usual planning laws and approval processes.

Who's funding this work?

The funding for this consultation is coming from the Town Vitality Fund. This grant comes from central government funding pots and is distributed via Cornwall Council. It cannot be used for any other purposes.