Asda Hayle Harbour

The Asda Hayle Harbour store is part of the waterfront development of the town that was previously busy as an exporter of copper and tin around the world. Despite the decline of mining in the area the South Quay forms part of a World Heritage Site, making it an unusual project.

Architects FCB wanted to create a structure for the supermarket that rejected traditional out of town box-like structures. The end result resonates with the site’s history of mining, manufacturing, shipbuilding and shipbreaking. In addition to the 50,000 square foot Asda store, main contractor, Bowmer and Kirkland were asked to deliver 30 homes, a waterfront restaurant and shops on the derelict site.

Extensive renovation of the site was required and a new section of quayside wall was added, as well as repairing a large existing breach. The works also required the reintroduction of sluicing of the harbour, which included the installation of large timber lock gates into the Carnsew Channel and reinstalling penstocks to the existing tunnels. Controls were imposed by UNESCO, ICOMOS, the MMO, and Cornwall County Council, in line with the heritage requirements of the site, as well as the Carnsew Pool being a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Billington Structures were asked by Bowmer and Kirkland to supply and install all of the structural steelwork for the Asda Hayle store. The Hayle Harbour renovation is expected to create 200 construction jobs and once complete, jobs in retail, and at Asda and restaurants.