Update: Cornwall Local Plan and the so-called “eco-community” proposal: part 2

In recent years, various documents that have been produced by Eco-bos and others making the case for the “eco-town” or “eco-community” near Penwithick, and numerous promises have been made about the nature of the development.

For example, local people were also variously promised 40-50% affordable housing (Clay Country Eco-town The Facts; 2008) or 40% affordable housing (see Clay Country Eco-town Summary Booklet; 2009).

At the first session of the Examination in Public of the Cornwall Local Plan (May 2015), the Inspector ruled that the affordable housing target for the China Clay Area should be reduced from 40% to only 25%.

The councillors did not agree with this view but the Council had no option other than to redraft aspects of the Plan. At this time, when Cllr Matt Luke and I unsuccessfully attempted to get the “eco-community” removed from the document, supporters of the scheme put in place some policy guidelines for the development of the eco-community. This included a target of 30% affordable housing to reflect past promises and their assertion that this was no "ordinary" development.

But in its most recent representations to the Planning Inspector, Eco-bos have argued that they should not have to do more than 25% because of “significant development constraints associated with the former mineral working sites identified in the Clay Area” and issues of “economic viability.”

It seems to me that almost every statement coming out of Eco-bos shows just how inappropriate their development actually is.