Update on the Cornwall Local Plan

The Inspector into Cornwall’s Local Plan has published his final report. Following his Examination in Public (EiP), which took place between two inquiry sessions in May 2015 and May 2016, he has ruled that the Plan can be made “sound” – or, in other words, consistent with central government regulations – if a range of changes are made to the document.

This includes an increase in the overall housing target from 47,500 to 52,500 for the period 2010 to 2030 – which I know will disappoint many people, myself included. He has also inserted an additional target for 2,550 bed-spaces in communal facilities for older people, and revised the affordable housing policy to make it less ambitious but consistent with the Government policy – which is sadly a backward step.

The attempt of local MK councillors to get the so-called eco-community removed from the document has also failed. I will cover this in more detail in a separate blog entry.

The Local Plan will now be re-presented to the Council’s Planning Policy Advisory Committee (which I chair) in October, before going forward for adoption at a meeting of the Full Council in November.

In addition, Cornwall Council has just published its “Site Allocations Development Plan Document” for consultation.

This sets out the main allocations in the key towns to 'deliver' their share of the 52,500 houses and employment land, as well as information about the two “eco-community” sites.

Copies of the document and the supporting evidence can be viewed on www.cornwall.gov.uk/allocationsplan where documents can be downloaded and representations can be made.

Consultation on the document runs between Monday 3rd October and 5.00pm on Monday 14th November 2016.