Pickles to decide on 1,500-home Cornwall Greenfield development

The Committee approved the plans by 10 votes to nine for the mixed-use development, which will be built on a 65 hectare site neighbouring Inox's proposed 10,000 seat stadium. 
In addition to the 1,500 new homes, plans for the development include employment space; a hotel; a care home; primary school, and community and open space, which is proposed to be supported by a 600-space extension to the nearby park and ride facility.

The proposed housing development is intended to support Inox's 10,000 seat stadium which is planned for a neighbouring site at Threemilestone. The stadium was previously granted outline planning consent by Cornwall Council in November, subject to approval by the Secretary of State and the completion of a section 106 planning agreement.

The current housing application has now been referred to Eric Pickles for a final decision,   because the Council does not have an up to date development plan, because of the size of the development, and because it sits outside the town centre.

The development has been supported by the Council due to the 1,500 new homes it will provide, 35% of which are intended to be made available for affordable housing. 

"The proposed development would make a very significant contribution towards the provision of much needed housing of different types and tenures thereby helping to redress Truro’s acute shortfall in housing supply," the committee report said (179-pages / 4MB PDF).

Cornwall's Structure Plan states that there is around 1.9 years of housing land supply in the former Carrick area, compared to the required level of five years’ supply. 

"The site is located in an area specifically targeted by Cornwall Structure Plan for consideration in accommodating future growth, and previously confirmed by an Inspector in dismissing the Higher Newham Farm appeal," the committee report said.

A decision on the scheme was deferred by the Chairman of Cornwall Council’s Strategic Planning Committee in April, due to additional information being received in relation to the Heads of Terms and the Section 106 Agreement.