Harvey’s Foundry Trust has been awarded £4m from HLF to conserve and adapt for commercial use the remaining derelict Grade II listed buildings at the 19th-century Harvey’s Foundry in Hayle, Cornwall. 

This new grant will unlock the potential of the final two historic buildings on the site. It will fund vital repairs that will enable them to be converted to office space. These buildings will then have the potential to attract an additional £4m of private investment that will boost Hayle’s local economy and potentially create 84 new jobs.

Part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, Harvey’s Foundry was established in 1779 and for over 200 years was renowned for Cornish ingenuity and engineering excellence. During the Industrial Revolution, it powered heavy industries ranging from mining to ship-building. Unfortunately, as the Cornish mining industry collapsed the company went into decline. In the early 1900’s it was closed and the site was subsequently divided up and sold off.  As the fortune of Hayle demised, so did the site with buildings being abandoned and subjected to arson attacks.

This new funding, awarded through HLF’s innovative Heritage Enterprise programme, heralds the final phase of the 10 year regeneration of Harvey’s Foundry.  The regeneration has already seen this derelict, yet historically important, site transformed into a vibrant centre housing forty businesses that have generated over 150 jobs. 

Brian Capper Chair of the Trust, said: “The Heritage Lottery Fund received many high quality applications from around the country and we are delighted that our bid has been successful. There is much work still to do to secure match funding and finalise the details but this grant is a massive show of support for the Trustees, staff and supporters of the Trust and I congratulate them all and thank them for their efforts.”

HLF’s Heritage Enterprise programme addresses ‘market failure’ - where buildings have previously failed to attract investment or realise their commercial potential because the cost of repair has meant that they were not commercially viable. This Lottery investment is now bridging that financial gap, enabling vital repairs and conservation works to transform the remaining buildings at Harvey’s.

Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West, said: “The successful regeneration of Harvey’s Foundry keenly demonstrates how heritage-led regeneration can directly spur local economic growth.  However, these types of historic buildings are not without their financial challenges and so the Heritage Lottery Fund is giving communities the tools they need to attract investment. This grant represents the final piece in the jigsaw for Harvey’s that will see it return to the centre of Hayle’s local economy.”

John Pollard leader of Cornwall council said: "I congratulate all involved in achieving this grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This is one of the first Heritage Enterprise grants in the South West and will enable Harvey's Foundry Trust to continue the regeneration of Foundry Lane and provide much needed work space.”

Now that this grant is approved a much more detailed stage two bid process will begin and further consultation events will be arranged.

Further information

For more information on the project and Harvey's Foundry Trust, please call Laura Christon on 01736 757 683.