Plans to build garden village on outskirts of Truro recommended for approval
They include over 3,500 new homes, as well as schools, medical facilities and shops
Last updated 10th Dec 2021
Plans to build a garden village with up to 3,550 homes to the west of Truro have been recommended for approval by planning officers.
A hybrid planning application for the Langarth Garden Village is set to go before Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee when it meets next Thursday (Dec16).
Submitted by Cornwall Council itself the application has been years in the making and is the result of the authority performing an intervention in the various developments which were set to take shape in the Langarth area.
Multiple planning applications had been submitted and approved over several years but development had yet to start on any of them due to a slow down in the economy.
However the council decided to step in and set up a fund of £159million to draw up a new masterplan for the entire Langarth site as plans for a “new town” emerged.
The aim was to avoid a patchwork quilt effect of different developments being created and instead have a cohesive approach to the Langarth area. The council said it wanted to create a high quality development which would also meet housing needs and respect the environment.
Now those plans have morphed into the Langarth Garden Village which would include up to 3,550 homes, including 35% affordable housing; extra care homes; up to two new primary schools; medical facilities; emergency services facilities; retail and leisure facilities; office and workspace and acres of new parks and public open spaces.
The site for the planned Stadium for Cornwall also sits next to the Garden Village and there are plans to expand the existing park and ride at Langarth.
A new road – the Northern Access Road (NAR) – is also planned to carry traffic from the A390, through the garden village and out to Treliske.
In recommending approval planning officers state in a report to the strategic planning committee: "Your officers are supportive of the holistic approach undertaken by the applicant, in seeking to deliver a mixed and balanced community, which considers the site as a whole, rather than the previous piecemeal consents which were principally based around land agglomerates and retail led proposals.
"The comprehensive approach ensures that the proposals are genuinely informed by the landscape character and assets".
Kenwyn Parish Council has supported the plans but has asked the council to add conditions including that improvement projects in Threemilestone are funded and do go ahead.
The parish council also asks: "Cornwall Council to make a commitment that Langarth Garden Village will maintain its village status and that it will not be subsumed into a ‘Greater Truro’ in the future".
Truro City Council has also supported the application and has asked that it and other councils continue to be consulted on reserved matters applications, which will provide fine detail of the plans, as they come forward.
Chacewater Parish Council has raised concerns about the plans including: "The size and scale of the development is comparable to the likes of Liskeard or Wadebridge.
"The demands on Treliske hospital, GP surgeries, dentists and the Emergency Services are already having a severe impact now, and services are continuing to be cut so how will this impact them and what improvements/reassurances are in place to ensure that the pressure on them is minimal?
"We would expect a multi service hub within the town with at least a fire station, minor injuries clinic, police station and crematorium".
Chacewater and Kea parish councils also raised concerns about traffic from the development and the impact on sewage systems.
Kea Parish Council added: "In conclusion it would appear that there is little to commend this development nor the process and complete lack of regard for neighbours that this process has taken.
"It is our firm opinion that Cornwall Council should be ashamed of itself and its process with this application of much needed housing in the Truro area".
Devon and Cornwall Police said that it would need to employ additional officers and would need improved police station facilities due to the extra demands which could be created by the development.
The force has asked for the developers to provide a contribution of £1.9m "to mitigate the impact the development will have on the police’s resources and to ensure that the Force can continue to provide the same level of service to residents, communities and businesses in and around Truro".
NHS Kernow highlighted that the 3,550 homes could result in an extra 8,165 additional patients requiring health services.
They state that a contribution of £984,000 will be required to help meet the extra demand.