A deal to transfer control of the Pendennis Headland and the former Ships & Castles leisure centre from Cornwall Council to Falmouth Town Council for just £1 has been completed.

Both parties had agreed on a deal back in December 2022 to sell the site for just £1 as the former operator of the leisure center Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) now operating under the name 'Better' said they could no longer afford to run the site.

Cornwall Council had floated the idea of selling the site and using the money to create a new leisure centre for Falmouth however there were concerns the land could then be developed for something like a luxury hotel.

When announcing the completion of the sale today (14 August), both councils released a statement saying: "Partners have been working to secure the smooth transition of the site for the benefit of the local community since Cornwall Council's cabinet unanimously voted to transfer the freehold of the land to Falmouth Town Council for £1.

"Pendennis headland is one of Cornwall's historic jewels, rich in military history spanning over 450 years through successive periods of threat that have seen improvements to the site's fortifications. In more recent times, the headland has become home to the Falmouth HM Coastguard station, critical to marine safety in much of the northeast Atlantic.

"The woods and green spaces that make up most of the headland 30+ hectares are home to diverse wildlife and are a favourite with locals, as is the stunning Pendennis Point where the popular carpark will also transfer to Falmouth Town Council.

"Alongside Cornwall Council's devolution team, Falmouth Town Council has also been working closely with the Pendennis Leisure charity to ensure the former swimming pool remains at the heart of the deal for the long-term benefit of the local community.

Member of Pendennis Leisure with Mayor Kirstie Edwards (centre) and Cllr Jude Robinson (Right of Kirstie) (Image: Supplied by Falmouth Town Council/Cornwall Council)

"As part of the devolution deal, the charity is entering into a 125-year lease with Falmouth Town Council for the Ships & Castles site. While Pendennis Leisure are looking to reopen the centre as a community centre in the short term, their long-term ambition remains to build a 25m pool and multifunctional activity centre on the site."

Mayor Kirstie Edwards, on behalf of Falmouth Town Council, said, "Last year, following the closure of the Ships and Castles leisure centre and the uncertainty regarding the future of the wider Pendennis Headland, Falmouth Town Council were given a very clear mandate by the people of Falmouth to secure the beautiful Pendennis Headland and its heritage for the benefit of all, forever. Today we are delighted to say that we have achieved this. Our sincere thanks go to everyone who has worked so hard on this deal on behalf of the community of Falmouth."

Gemma Adams, Pendennis Leisure trustee said, "We are thrilled to finally be able to say that the community has secured the headland for good. It is a historic moment, and we are massively grateful to the teams in Falmouth and Cornwall Councils who have made this possible. Even though the old swimming pool is no longer functional, we will be opening the doors again as soon as possible for a wide range of other community uses and are focused on getting Falmouth the leisure facility it needs and deserves for the long term."

There has been a high level of community interest in the headland. Meetings have been run by the charity. (Image: Pendennis Leisure)

Councillor Jude Robinson, who, as chair of Falmouth Town Council's Finance & General Purpose committee, played a key role in securing the final deal said, "I'm relieved and proud that we've shown what can be achieved through effective partnership working. We believe in Pendennis Leisure's vision of a new pool and activity centre for the people of Falmouth and the surrounding areas and will do all we can to help them."

The Penndenis Leisure group has been working hard while the process of completing the sale has taken place. There have been public meetings and community clean-up days.

The team is always looking for volunteers and occasionally equipment to help on the site. You can follow their progress and get in touch with them here: Facebook you can also find the social media account for the new Pendennis Community Centre: Facebook