Newlyn Harbour Fish Market & Processing Units

Pringle Richards Sharratt were appointed by Newlyn Pier Harbour Commissioners and Penwith District Council to design a new fish market and associated processing units in the centre of the village of Newlyn in Cornwall. The brief called for the new buildings to engage with the local context and community to ensure that the fishing industry and harbour activities remained integrated with the village.

The scheme proposed a collection of buildings along the boundary with the harbour and village that replicated the scale of the existing cottages, carefully positioned to maintain views from the narrow streets across the harbour and out to sea, with the larger fish market located at the centre of the harbour forming the backdrop to a new public square, providing a new focus and heart for the village and community. 

The form and construction of the market had been heavily informed by the need to create and preserve the correct internal environment and flow of produce - thermally massive walls and a compact form ensured that the minimum amount of energy was required to cool the building in the early morning when the market was in operation.

The market and processing units were designed to meet the demanding standards of today’s food processing facilities along with the target of a BREEAM excellent rating.