Plans have been revealed for what would be Cornwall’s largest employment space project in decades.
Supporters for the proposed Fibre Park Digital Academy in Pool say it could create 1,200 new jobs.
The academy would be built on a redundant part of Cornwall College’s Camborne campus in Pool, creating 150,000sq ft of mixed-use space.
Funding is now being sought for the project, which is a collaboration between Cornwall College and software outsourcing company, Headforwards.
The industry group, Software Cornwall, has been regularly consulted during the development of the idea in order to ensure that the workspace is going to provide what the industry needs.
Headforwards director, Toby Parkins, said: “The opportunity to create social change in the heart of Cornwall through working with schools and colleges, is a primary outcome of the project.
“The CPR area has been one of the most challenged in Europe and the project is designed to help facilitate a long-term change for the area by deeply routing education at the core.
“The facility will provide a central core of futuristic inspiration for every young person in the area from primary, through secondary and onto college, apprenticeship and degree stages.
“The project has built on previous work and its current working title Fibre Park Digital Academy reflects the importance of ensuring education is a critical part of future business activity.”
The fibre park will have access to hyperfast internet speeds (10Gbps+), providing the next generation speeds required to allow research, innovation and development of new products and services that will have a global reach.
Parkins says the complex is being designed to provide an innovative environment for businesses working in the fields of software, food technology, e-health and e-wellbeing and Smart Energy.
Further key features of the project are:
- Community space allowing businesses to collaborate with academics and students
- Event space allowing conferences around educational topics
- A large video wall over the main entrance to provide continual information about events, education, jobs and other community activities
- Smart Technology test bed throughout the building
- PV and other sustainable features to minimize carbon foot print
- Hack-a-thon style community activities engaging schools and industry to prototype new ideas and projects.
