Insight / 26-Dec-23

Designs For The Renovation Of Iconic Penzance Building Revealed

Written by Laura Highton
Designs For The Renovation Of Iconic Penzance Building Revealed

Concept designs for the multi-million-pound renovation of Market House in Penzance have been revealed.

The designs will transform the interior of the landmark building and restore it to its former glory as a market hall.

The £2.5million renovation project is being funded by the Penzance Town Deal and will include a community hub with town council services on the lower ground floor, a new food market at ground floor and a restaurant and event space on the top floor.

The investment in Market House is being led by The Penzance Regeneration Company (a not-for-profit company) and project managed by Treveth. The project is part of the Penzance Town Deal, a £21.5 million investment in seven projects across the town of Penzance to contribute to it's regeneration and boost the local economy.

The market hall main space which will serve as a food hall
The market hall main space which will serve as a food hall

Currently dilapidated, Market House is on the Historic England at Risk Register. In addition to the internal renovations, Lloyds, who currently lease part of the building, are carrying out extensive repairs on the exterior.

Originally opened in 1838, Market House has had many uses over the years including a guild hall, a school, a Post Office, an indoor market, a café, offices, and shops. Prior to 1864, the building also housed the town’s prison cells.

Construction work on the interior of the building will start in the spring of 2024 and take two years with an estimated opening time for the new look Market House of spring 2026.

Top Floor Restaurant Space
Top Floor Restaurant Space

“The renovation of the Market House is about bringing activity and life back into this historic building in the heart of Penzance. The project will preserve and restore some of the building’s original details, whilst bringing it up to modern standards and providing a long term new use within its existing footprint”

- Laura Highton, Senior Architect.

Meet the Author

Director
Laura Highton
BSc(Hons)  MArch  ARB  RIBA-SCA Laura joined Poynton Bradbury Architects in... Read More

BSc(Hons)  MArch  ARB  RIBA-SCA

Laura joined Poynton Bradbury Architects in 2023 and brings a wealth of experience to the practice. Her passion for architecture is focussed on creating sustainable, adaptable, and vibrant spaces thar respond to their surroundings and context. She has skills in contemporary design and has developed an architectural sensitivity in her approach to working in historic settings.

Registered as a RIBA Specialist Conservation Architect, Laura’s expertise lies in the adaptive re-use of existing buildings, and she is particularly skilled at bringing new life and contemporary design into historic buildings and settings. She has a comprehensive knowledge of conservation practice and extensive experience of applying this within historic buildings.

Laura’s portfolio is varied and includes large scale community and public buildings such as museums, visitor centres and libraries up to the value of £25m. Alongside this she has worked on intricate and smaller scale developments including bespoke new-build residential projects and one-off house renovations.

Email Laura

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