FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Major re-cladding and façade improvement works to commence at Trelawney House and Piran Place in St Austell, Cornwall from June 2026 to April 2028
Local residents, businesses, members of the public, and media outlets are being advised that major building safety improvement works at the apartment blocks adjoining the White River Place shopping centre in St Austell are due to commence this week following over 5 years of planning and tireless work by the volunteer-run residents’ management company.
The programme of works will involve the complete removal and replacement of existing external cladding and façade materials, including combustible insulation, and wooden balconies, at the apartment buildings.
Copyright: Bailey Partnership and THPP Management Company Limited.
The project forms part of a wider national building safety programme for residential buildings identified as ‘Higher-Risk Buildings’ and is being undertaken to ensure the buildings meet stringent new fire safety and building regulations introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022, following the tragic fire at London’s Grenfell Tower in 2017, in which 72 people died.
The existing external wall materials are no longer considered suitable under modern fire safety standards. The works are being delivered as a critical long-term safety improvement measure and will be monitored throughout by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
Volunteer Director of THPP Management Company, Greg Matthews said:
“I am extremely pleased and relieved that we are, after 5 years of planning and tireless work, finally able to begin these critical fire-safety works. Although of course we’re all still deeply frustrated that we we’re having to have them done at all, when the buildings were only completed in 2013.
Like the residents’ of thousands of other higher-risk buildings up and down the UK, we’ve been trapped in this dreadful building-cladding saga with, what seemed at times, no end in sight.
But we feel incredibly lucky to have such an excellent team in Bailey Partnership and Classic Builders, as well as our fantastic managing agents Plymouth Block Management. We simply couldn’t have got to this point without their dedication and expertise as well as quite literally ‘years’ of hard work. The end is finally in sight, and we can’t wait to see the end result!”
The works will include:
- Temporary traffic management measures and changes to some pedestrian routes
- Construction of large-scale scaffolding structures around both buildings to allow the works to be completed safely
- Removal of existing cladding systems, render, balconies, sections of brickwork and other façade materials
- Installation of new compliant fire safety systems and external finishes
- The project is expected to take approximately 95 weeks, including months of scaffold construction and deconstruction, with traffic management measures scheduled to begin on 22 June 2026.
- Scaffold erection is planned to commence in early July 2026, with completion currently targeted for April 2028.
During the works, Trinity Street will operate as a northbound one-way route to enable the safe installation and operation of the free-standing scaffolding. Some pedestrian routes will temporarily change and the southbound bus stop on Trinity Street will be suspended for the duration of the project.
Visitors and motorists are advised that there may be some delays and are encouraged to allow additional time for journeys.
Importantly, White River Place and Trinity Street shops and businesses, along with their associated service yards, and the multi-storey car park, will remain fully open and operational throughout the works.
The project team has spent significant time planning the delivery of the works to minimise disruption while maintaining safe working conditions. Options including full closure of Trinity Street were considered, however a compliant traffic management approach has been developed to maintain access to the town centre, White River Place, the multi-storey car park, Burton House service yard and surrounding businesses.
The re-cladding and façade replacement works are being undertaken by Classic Builders on behalf of THPP Management Company and Bailey Partnership, in association with Plymouth Block Management.
A dedicated Resident and Business Liaison Officer will be based in the town centre (opposite Chi Austell) and will be available throughout the project to support residents, businesses, visitors and members of the public with queries or concerns.
Additional security measures will also be in place throughout the works to support public safety and security.
Project contact information:
Resident and Business Liaison Officer
White River Project Office
(former O2 shop)
Unit D3b
, White River Place,
St Austell
PL25 5AZ
Email: whiteriverproject@classic-builders.co.uk
The project team wishes to thank residents, businesses, visitors and the wider St Austell community for their patience, understanding, and cooperation while these essential building safety works are completed.
Please note, regular project updates will be posted on this website.
