The Town Deal funded scheme to transform the Malakoff open space into an attractive, safe and welcoming place for everyone to enjoy is now complete.
The St Ives Town Deal Low Carbon Transport Strategy aims to reduce the impact of vehicles on St Ives and introduce measures that encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport. The scheme developed and constructed by Cormac in collaboration with local architects Lavigne Lonsdale, has been delivered by Cornwall Council in partnership with the St Ives Town Deal Board and the St Ives Town Council as custodians of this prominent space.
As well as constructing a new bespoke bus shelter and installing new granite paving, bespoke granite planters and illuminated benches, new street furniture, including bike stands, a new millwheel feature and lighting, the ambitious scheme also involved temporarily relocating the iconic sculpture Epidauros II by Dame Barbara Hepworth to the Penwith Gallery while the works were carried out. The historic mill wheel was also removed from the site and put into storage to enable it to be re-instated once the works were complete.
“It is great to see the completion of the works to improve the Malakoff “ said Andrew Baragwanath, Chair of St Ives Town Deal Board. “This is a very important area for our town and this long-awaited scheme has transformed it into a modern, vibrant public space worthy of the Barbara Hepworth legacy.
“We are very grateful to Cornwall Council and all the partners who have worked so hard to deliver this transformation. I would also like to thank local residents and businesses for their patience and support during the construction and hope that they enjoy visiting the finished scheme.
Cllr Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council cabinet member for transport,said “It is good to see the completion of another phase of the St Ives Low Carbon Transport Strategy. One of the key aims of the Strategy is to encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport. I hope that this scheme, which includes a new bus layby and bus shelter and is sited next to the rail station, will encourage more people to travel to the town by bus and train.
“The Malakoff, with its incredible views of the Bay, has always been a popular place to visit. The new seating and paving have created a safer, more accessible and even more attractive environment and I am sure that both local residents and visitors will enjoy it. “
The first phase of the scheme, completed in the first half of 2025, included the creation of a new bus layby and footway. Repairs were also carried out on the car park steps and nearby parapet wall which had been damaged by vehicle collisions.
The successful removal of the Barbara Hepworth sculpture to the Penwith Gallery, which enabled it to remain on public view throughout the project, was co-ordinated through a partnership between St Ives Town Council, Tate, Penwith Gallery, Cornwall Council, and Cormac.
Specialist art handler Sculpture Transport UK, who also relocated Hepworth’s Dual Form, oversaw the move, with support from Sculpture movers’ Damon Bramley of Sculpture Transport UK and Tom Leaper, Artist, and Sculptor, on behalf of Penwith Gallery.
The project team then worked with stakeholders and the local community to finalise the designs for the second phase of the scheme which included the provision of the new bus shelter and information point, together with new seating, paving and landscaping.
Work on this phase began in late Autumn 2025, with the historic millwheel installed in early 2026, creating a prominent focal point. The final measures, which included the restoration of Epidauros II and the planting and landscaping were completed during the last few weeks.
Kieren Couch, Project Lead, said “We recognise that the delivery of the Malakoff scheme has taken longer than originally anticipated. This was largely due to the supply, fabrication and co-ordination of multiple bespoke components, many of which were supplied by local craftspeople and were necessary to achieve the right outcome deserved for such a prominent location.”
“However, I hope the temporary disruption is considered in balance against the quality of the completed project and the enhanced environment that has now been created for all. The Malakoff is a primary gateway into the town for residents and visitors travelling by bus and the finished scheme now provides a welcoming, high-quality public space that supports the significance, character and charm of St Ives.”
Members of St Ives Town Deal Board and St Ives Town Council joined representatives of the St Ives Transport Town Deal Project team, local councillors and officers from Cornwall Council and Cormac this week for a tour of the open space.
As the Malakoff is one of the key routes into St Ives, the project team worked hard to ensure that the scheme was carried out to the highest possible standard, using a range of appropriate materials, complimentary to the local vernacular. This included granite for the paving and seating areas.
A specialist masonry team from Cormac laid approximately 440 individual granite setts ( equating to 137.28m2.) by hand and installed 11 bespoke seating areas comprising 61 individual sections of granite, each of which was individually placed to ensure that the bench mirrored the gently sloping level of the Malakoff. The benches include locally sourced timber seating, with large central benches doubling up as new planters. They also carried out repairs to the outer wall of the Malakoff.
Local specialists also fabricated the steel fixings needed to secure the mill wheel in place and, in keeping with the Barbara Hepworth sculpture, bronze was used within the bollards, bike stands and artwork of the millwheel.
“Cormac is proud to have played a leading role in transforming the Malakoff” said Andy Berryman from Cormac. “The project has been technically complex and involved the co-ordination of specialist skills, bespoke materials and heritage assets, all within a fairly constrained area. We are proud of the quality of the finished scheme and the collaborative approach that’s brought the vision to life”.