Council Approves Truro Langarth Development by Wafer Thin Margin
By chris_wasey | Thursday, May 03, 2012, 18:42
Cornwall Council approved Truro's hotly debated development proposal today, by a wafer thing margin of 10-9.
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Cornwall Council vote in favour of Langarth development in Truro
Langarth Development Truro
This development, the largest proposed in Truro's history, includes 1500 houses, an expansion to the existing park and ride, a new school and a new care home. It didn't get much notice during consultation at Truro College, but it has certainly sparked opinion since...
Supporters point to improved transport infrastructure that would be put in place, a larger park and ride, integration with the Stadium for Cornwall (also proposed by Inox), £140 million of investment, 30% affordable houses (much needed in Truro) and assurances by Inox that they will do everything they can to minimise traffic during building.
Detractors, by contrast, have suggested all along that the development is simply far too big. Much of today's discussion has centred around the notion that the new estate would have a population greater than Padstow or Fowey. They claim that the increase in traffic would be overwhelming and that the short term investment would not equate to long term gain.
Twitter Debate
Although close run votes are not a complete anomaly within Cornwall Council, Truro's Langarth development has perhaps been even more divisive than most. There's more information on the story with our partners at thisiscornwall, but here's a snapshot of what everyone has been saying on that there Twitter using either the term 'Langarth' or hashtag #ccwebcast.
FOR!
- @CllrAWallis: Close vote as Langarth outline application is passed 10 votes to 9 #ccwebcast It was a straight yes/no vote. I voted in favour (for the record)
- @DCAJason: Cllr Wallis says he has had more objections to a conservatory on his patch than the Inox application.
- @DCAJason: public speaker (in support) says Truro must move forward for the sake of future generations.
- @HarrisonMedia: Developers develop for profit. Fact that 35% of homes on Langarth scheme in Truro are set aside for affordable housing is bonus.
- @milesodavis: @lemarksmith Talking about the Langarth devpt surrounded by ANPR to keep traffic numbers down. If not Inox will face financial penalties. Traffic monitoring around Langarth will be "like Colditz"
- @HarrisonMedia: Very tight but Cnll planning cmtte approves Inox scheme near Truro by 10-9 vote. I, for one, welcome £140m investment.
AGAINST!
- @SaveTruro: Developers friend in action again #ccwebcast
- @Saltern: @KernowPods Outline permission for development at Langarth - the size of Padstow. Yes we need homes, but we also need agricultural land
- @kimberly_0: RT: @milesodavis New estate at Langarth, Threemilestone will be bigger than Fowey or Padstow
Have your say.
So, where do you stand? A huge new development; a lot of jobs, a lot of traffic at rush hours. Good or bad for Truro?
Comments
1) 'Affordable homes for local people', a much-used vacuous phrase, employed to justify just about any development. Fact, a mildred diverse and complex issues affect housing affordability/availabilty -market tends, social trends, jobs to house ratios, etc-, and simple building won't change a thing. Where is the evidence that any generation was able easily to set up house in their own neighbourhood, if it was relatively attractive? Anyone genuinely concerned re housing would be prioritising tackling the housing wastage (unused housing, family homes where the family is now reduced to 1 OAP, second homes, the skewing of the market by buy-to-let investors); tackling it prominently and relentlessly and engaging the whole community; only when it was sorted would they have the time/resources to consider new build proposals.
2) 'Public benefits', another seductive phrase. Fact, developments are notriously apt to deliver better on the saleable products of their plans, than the public amenity aspects. Evidence other Truro developments that promised significant playparks, open public spaces, etc, and failed to deliver (eg, the city hospital site). Amenities first , or no go.
3) Thinking bluesky; a by-pass (with viaducts) connecting the Threemilestone end and the Eastern end of Truro could likely someday be both affordable and a necessity, development should not be allowed to block the prospect of it.
4) People would have less objections to development, if it wasn't always the same old 'little boxes on the hillside, and they're all made out of ticky, tacky, and they all look just the same'. Genuinely appealing and innovative design has a positive uplifting effect on people. It doesn't need to cost more, it just needs 'thinking outside the box' -pun intended.
By shimadon at 04:02 on 13/05/12
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