Cornish stadium feasibility study costing £78,000

A study into plans for a stadium in Cornwall is costing £78,000, Cornwall Council has confirmed.

It said it was paying consultants to produce the feasibility study for the proposed stadium.

The council said it was looking at three potential sites, including Threemilestone, near Truro. The other two locations have not been revealed.

It added that it was also working towards applying for European grants if the plans go forward.

The stadium would have 4,500 seats as a sporting events venue and a 10,000 capacity for events such as music concerts.

Specialists Gardner and Theobald have been commissioned to carry out the study and work on a business case, the council said.

It said the stadium would help nurture regional sporting talent to compete on a national scale.

The council's head of economic development, Sandra Rothwell, said that although it was providing the money for the study, the authority would look for other sources to build the stadium if it was approved.

She said: "The budget where this [study] is from is specifically designed to enable leverage from other funding sources to enable things to happen.

"One of the funding opportunities that we're looking at with the stadium is with the European Convergence Programme, as well as private sector investment."

Truro City Football Club and the Cornish Pirates rugby team are also both involved with the study. Both teams said they supported the idea and were in talks with the council.

It is expected that the study will be completed by the autumn.