Devon County Council is undertaking a market research exercise to look at possible options for the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown.

The concept of ‘crowdsourcing’ is being applied to Centre in order to find an appropriate long term future for the building. The technique involves using the web to cast the net far and wide to reach as many business and organisations who might be interested in using the building as possible . Proposals can then be submitted by businesses or individuals.

This ‘open call’ for ideas also allows interested parties to look at suggestions by others, vote on them and make comments. However, confidential approaches can also be made directly to the council.

The hope is to explore potential new uses for the building and to get as many realistic proposals as possible. These will then be to fed into an appraisal of future options which will be produced during the summer. Any potential options need to be financially sustainable.

Whilst this appraisal is carried out, organisations will be able to use the building for appropriate short term events over the summer to help support the vibrancy of the town centre.

Cabinet member for Economy, Enterprise and Employment, Will Mumford says: “We are very much open to proposals at this stage. This could be an opportunity for a new business or a mixed use of retail space, an educational facility, hot desks or small units for individual businesses. The important thing is not to rule anything out and we are interested in hearing from businesses and organisations about how the building could contribute to the local economic development of Princetown.”

The building was formerly used as a base for local artists, and also housed a gallery/exhibition space, training room and shop. Located in Dartmoor National Park, it lies approximately 12 miles from Plymouth and 6 miles from Tavistock. It has 15 purpose built incubation units ranging from 10-30 square metres in size, as well as a retail area of approximately 60 square metres and a double height gallery/ exhibition space of the same size with integral reception point and admin office. Most units have IT / internet access points, sink and separate electric meters. There is also a large studio of 60 square metres on the first floor with a mezzanine overlooking the gallery.

Whilst the council will follow up some of the information gathered through this exercise, it can’t promise to respond to every idea and comment.

To get involved, those interested should go to http://duchy-square.ideascale.com/ and click the new idea button. There are also options to add tags to an idea, vote on existing ones and add comments.

For more information visit http://duchy-square.ideascale.com/