Lilly Lewarne Practice were first commissioned in 2002 by repeat clients Arrowcity Ltd to consider mixed use proposals for this redundant industrial site, which is an important remnant of central Cornwall’s socio-economic heritage – the rockdrills and other mining machinery manufactured here were exported all over the world, as were the skills of Cornish miners themselves. A significant historic strand of Camborne’s business, when the mining and manufacturing industry declined, large parts of the site fell derelict for over 15 years with some key historic buildings- including the Public Assembly Rooms - on the verge of collapse. By late 2003, the site was wholly disused. A significant number of key stakeholders were involved in defining the brief for development, including Camborne Pool Redruth Urban Regeneration Company (CPR URC), CABE, Prince’s Trust Foundation, ICOMOS, The Trevithick Society, Local Authorities and residents and Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU). After several years of protracted negotiation and scheme iterations, the brief changed dramatically, when Cornwall with Devon was awarded Mining World Heritage status, and retention of much more of the derelict historically significant fabric was now required by ICOMOS. Proposals were reconsidered, and the built out scheme – now contributing much-needed 100% affordable houses and apartments with Coastline Housing in place as social landlord/ client - represents the final iteration of the brief. Work began hastily on site in 2008. It soon became clear that it would be difficult to manage both cost and time on a community led / affordable housing project such as this when large amounts of existing historic fabric was involved. The appointed main contractor went into administration within 12 months from the start of the project leaving the entire project in jeopardy. The contract was re-negotiated and during development on site many design compromises had to be sought in order to bring the project back within budget. Overall all consultants involved worked tirelessly in order to achieve the overall goal of finishing the project to as high a standard as the budget would allow for the benefit of the end user and Camborne as a whole. The development was completed in phases – the main site development in 2012 and later conversion of the Public Rooms building in the following year, formally opened in July 2013. In designing the site a careful compromise was sought between valuable open recreation space, economically adequate unit numbers and the historic fabric. Elements were retained by working closely with other consultants in establishing their merit whilst incorporating them into a practical design. Variation in materials and style according to each unit help to break down the site visually assisting with a legibility that is found in traditional settings but produced here in an industrial contemporary manner. The former public rooms building and the new Unit A provide the main public face of the site onto Trevenson Street, its blend of modernist white projections is subtlety balanced by the use of local and existing stone creating a dynamic corner building visible via many glimpses through the Camborne townscape.