Developing a long-term, sustainable vision for a tourist destination

Newquay Town Centre Renewal Framework

Newquay is a picturesque seaside town on the exposed north coast of Cornwall. A surfing destination with world-class beaches and dramatic clifftops, it’s a magnet for tourists that swell the town’s population during the summer months. Looking to deliver a place-based approach to town centre renewal, recovery, and regeneration, Newquay Town Council and Newquay Town Team wanted to improve the distinct, inclusive lifestyle offering of wellbeing in this coastal town.

As part of the consultancy team, we collaborated with the Town council and team, Cornwall Council and local businesses, and interested community parties to revitalise and diversify the town centre. We advised on sustainability, shoreline management, and utility infrastructure. Against a backdrop of site development opportunities and public realm improvements, we developed a sustainability framework for Newquay Town Centre. The framework highlighted objectives that included resiliency in the face of climate change, achieving net zero by 2050, and prioritising circular economy principles and sustainable waste management. We also highlighted objectives to improve the health and wellbeing of Newquay residents, integrate nature and biodiversity in the urban environment, and deliver sustainable neighbourhoods.

Reflecting the prominence of the coastal cliffs that dominate the Newquay shoreline, we also advocated the development of a shoreline management strategy. This aims to address condition appraisals of the cliffs, a risk register for properties and infrastructure, a constraints plan, and the zonation of cliffs and beach areas in respect of their risk status.

With the creation of this Newquay Town Centre Development Framework in hand, Newquay has a strategy to revitalise the town centre with affordable living spaces and electric vehicle support among others improvements. And with the launch of the development framework, the Newquay Town Team have begun to explore how to engage interested parties and move forward with this town centre renewal.