by Richard Whitehouse, Local Democracy Reporter

WORK to transform the former livestock market in Liskeard into a new centre for employment, creativity and community will start at the end of this year.

The Cattle Market regeneration project is a “gain, gain, gain” for Liskeard, said chairman of the East Cornwall planning committee Chris Batters. The committee met and gave its unanimous approval to planning permission for the first phase of the development on Monday.

Demolition work on the old dilapidated buildings and pens will begin in December of this year, with construction of a new ‘Workshed’ set to start in May 2021: it should be ready for the first businesses to move in by the end of June 2022.

This building will provide 17 flexible work units for small and micro businesses in the digital and creative sectors and will support more than 30 jobs.

A new canopy will be provided for covered-over markets as well as an open-air market space and new public realm areas.

The Workshed and market area will cost around £5.6 million and is being supported by EU Regional Development Funding, the Government’s Local Growth Fund awarded via the Cornwall Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, and Cornwall Council investment.

It’s the first phase of a wider scheme which will see the whole of the former Cattle Market site reimagined.

The development has been backed by Liskeard Town Council and has been drawn up following extensive public consultation.

There had been concerns about the loss of car parking spaces in the town but the committee heard that the spaces had been underused, while disabled parking spaces have been relocated elsewhere.

The car park adjacent to the new Workshed will be relaid as part of the first phase of the project.

Cornwall councillor for Liskeard Sally Hawken has been closely involved with the plans from their inception. She said: “It is just fantastic to now have the stamp of approval from the planning committee. We had really positive public engagement at an event at the Cattle Market on Saturday. I’m now looking forward to work beginning on site.”

Planning committee chairman Cllr Chris Batters said: “I think this is a great plan. It is a gain, gain, gain for the town - I would love to have something like this come to Bodmin.”

“To have something so close to the town centre of Liskeard as this facility can only be good for the town centre.”