StARR - St Austell Bay Resilient Regeneration

The St Austell Bay Resilient Regeneration (StARR) project aims to reduce flood risk to communities living and working in the St Austell Bay area, particularly in Par and St. Blazey. The proposed scheme will bring additional benefits to the area by encouraging investment and making Par and St. Blazey a better place to work, live and play.

The StARR project partners are:

• Cornwall Council
• The Environment Agency
• Westcountry Rivers Trust
• The University of Exeter
• South West Water

StARR Project on the 'Let's Talk Cornwall' website

We would normally hold information events in Par and St Blazey to show you the latest information about the project. The COVID-19 pandemic meant that we couldn't meet you safely face to face for a while. We developed this site to present the information and to help you to have your say.

What have we been up to?

Since the public information event in June 2019 we have:

• appointed two staff to help manage overall delivery and our European funding compliance
• secured £7.8m of European funding for StARR, bringing the total to £34m
• been developing outline designs for our Urban Infrastructure sites and detailed design for our works alongside the Par River (main river works)
• held a workshop for community leaders to help shape the use of open space around some of our sites and possible landscaping of the proposed ponds and rain gardens
• submitted sites for planning permission based on outline design and detailed designs
• launched a project newsletter and posted newsflashes to help keep you informed of key project development
• partnered with the University of Exeter and Westcountry Rivers Trust to develop habitat plans near Lower Molinnis and to engage with landowners across the Par River catchment, and
• commissioned the first part of a long-term Adaptation Plan (post 25 year StARR lifespan) to help the community develop and adapt to the challenges of climate change.

Flooding and climate change

Cornwall Council declared a climate emergency in January 2019. Climate change is causing more intense storms, rising sea levels and extreme flooding. Cornwall is particularly susceptible to flood risk and coastal erosion. You can read more on Cornwall Council's climate change website. The StARR project aims to reduce the flood risk in Par and St Blazey in the short term. A longer term plan will be developed with your help, allowing your community to find new ways to adapt to flooding.