Camborne and Redruth were once at the centre of Cornish mining, and the engine houses, chapels and terraces that grew up around the mines still define both towns. Today they form one of the largest urban areas in Cornwall, with neighbouring communities such as Pool, Illogan, Tuckingmill, Troon, Beacon, Lanner, St Day and Carharrack. That mining heritage brings particular things to think about when you build here. If you're planning an extension, renovation or new home in Camborne, Redruth or the villages around them, this guide covers the local factors worth considering before you start.
Homes shaped by the mining era
Much of the housing stock in Camborne and Redruth dates from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when the mines employed thousands of people. You'll typically find:
Miners' cottages and terraces, often built in local stone with slate roofs, solid walls and modest plots.
Larger Victorian houses and villas built for mine captains, merchants and professionals, particularly around the town centres.
Chapels, count houses and former industrial buildings, some of which have been or could be converted.
Post-war and modern housing across the wider area, generally cavity-walled and well suited to extensions, loft conversions and garage conversions.
Older solid-walled homes need a different approach to newer ones, from damp-proofing and insulation to the mortars and renders used. An early site visit helps you plan around what's really there.
The World Heritage Site and conservation areas
The Camborne and Redruth mining district is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site, and both town centres include conservation areas with a number of listed buildings. This doesn't stop sensible change, but it does mean:
Permitted development rights are reduced in conservation areas, so some extensions, roof changes and alterations visible from the street may need planning permission.
Listed building consent is normally required for works affecting a listed building's character, inside or out.
Cornwall Council will consider the effect of proposals on the World Heritage Site and on local character, so design, scale and materials such as natural slate, local stone and timber joinery matter.
Our guides to planning permission in Cornwall and building in an AONB or conservation area explain how the process works.
Mine shafts, old workings and ground conditions
The biggest local consideration is what lies beneath. The area is criss-crossed by historic mine shafts, adits and shallow workings, not all of which are accurately recorded. Before you design an extension or new build, it's worth knowing:
A mining search, usually arranged through a conveyancer when a property is bought, shows recorded mining features near a property. If you don't have one, it can be ordered separately.
Where there's any concern, an engineer may recommend a ground investigation to check for shafts or voids before foundations are designed. Building Control may ask for this too.
Some land has been affected by mine waste, which can contain naturally occurring metals such as arsenic. On some sites, particularly new builds, contaminated land checks may be required as part of planning.
Radon is common in parts of Cornwall, and some new homes and extensions need protection measures. The UK Health Security Agency's radon map, your designer or Building Control can confirm what applies.
Our page on groundworks and foundations explains what's involved in preparing a site properly, and our guide to Building Regulations in Cornwall covers approvals.
Renovating older stone homes
Many cottages and terraces in Camborne and Redruth have thick stone walls that need to breathe. Cement pointing, hard renders and impermeable paints can trap moisture and cause damp, especially in exposed spots near the north coast at Portreath or on the higher ground around Carn Brea. Lime mortars and renders, good ventilation and drainage at the base of walls usually give a longer-lasting result. Our page on stone, rendering and lime work and our guide to renovating an old Cornish cottage go into more detail.
Popular projects in Camborne and Redruth
The projects local homeowners most often ask about include:
Home extensions, especially kitchen and family room extensions on terraced and semi-detached homes
Loft conversions to add space without losing garden
Property renovations of older stone homes
New builds on infill and replacement plots, where planning allows
Commercial building work for local businesses
If your home has a small rear yard, our kitchen extensions guide looks at layouts that make the most of limited space.
Camborne and Redruth building FAQs
Will an old mine shaft stop me extending my house?
Not necessarily. Many homes near recorded workings are extended successfully. The key is to check early, through a mining search and, if advised, a ground investigation, so foundations can be designed for the conditions.
Do I need planning permission because of the World Heritage Site?
Being in the World Heritage Site doesn't automatically mean you need permission, but if your home is also in a conservation area or is listed, rules are tighter. It's worth checking before finalising a design.
Can you convert a former chapel or industrial building?
Conversions of this kind are possible but usually need planning permission, and listed building consent if the building is listed. Structural surveys and careful design are essential.
Talk to us about your project
Cornish Building Company works across Camborne, Redruth and the surrounding villages from our base in Wadebridge. Visit our builders in Camborne and Redruth page, call us on 01208 816991, or contact us to talk through your plans.
