Wainhomes submits revised application for Cornwall development

The application follows a failed legal challenge of the Secretary of State's decision to dismiss Wainhomes' earlier application for a 1,300 home "urban extension" of St Austell, on the grounds that it would be "premature".

The latest planning application includes plans for a new primary school, college extension, 1,000 square metres of employment space, a new park, a public square, shop, playgrounds and allotments.

The "stand-alone application" would help meet the "pressing" housing need in St Austell, and would support the local economy by using local materials and skills, said Bob Taylor, the managing director of Wainhomes, according to local reports.

The St Austell Bay Chamber of Commerce supports the application.  "Wainhomes is a successful, locally-based development company that achieves consistent sales of the houses they build, even in these recessionary times," said Tom French, chairman of St Austell's Chamber of Commerce.

"As a result, this development offers employment and much-needed housing stock, and by identifying multiple uses for the land within the scheme clearly benefits the local community and economy of St Austell," said French, according to local reports.

However, local campaigners argue that Wainhomes' most recent application is still "premature" because Cornwall Council is still developing its Core Strategy, despite the development being reduced in size.

"I don't think it will succeed because it has no more merit than the original 1,300-home application which was objected to by the town council, parish councils, Planning Inspectorate, Secretary of State and the High Court," said Peter Wyper, of campaign group Save Our Unspolit Land, according to local reports.