The Planning Inspector in charge of Cornwall’s Local Plan Examination has given a provisional thumbs-up to the revised proposals put forward by the Council – enabling the authority to start to move the focus away from housing numbers to improving the quality of new development in Cornwall. 

Following the completion of the recent examination in public, which scrutinised every aspect of the Local Plan, the Inspector, Mr Emerson, has issued a ‘Schedule of Post-Hearing Changes for Consultation’. This is a list of further changes he wants the public’s views on before he makes his final recommendations.  The final recommendations are due to be published in September/October following this consultation.

The publication of the Schedule confirms that Mr Emerson is happy with the Council’s proposed policies to protect the environment and the housing target of 52,500 new homes between 2010-30 (nearly 22,000 of which already have permission) as well as a range of other changes put forward by the Council in January.

One of the key areas identified by the Inspector for further consultation is a proposal to redistribute 300 dwellings from the allowance for the Eco-Community at West Carclaze to the built area of St Austell. He also expects the progress of the Eco community to be closely monitored.

The Council will now be consulting on the Inspector’s Schedule over July, with responses then sent to Mr Emerson to inform the final report.