Truro City Council and Kenwyn Parish Council have agreed an initiative to jointly produce a Neighbourhood Plan which will provide a locally driven strategy for managing growth in the area.
Key objectives for the Plan are:
- Enabling the increased provision of affordable housing
- Building on and strengthening existing community cohesion
- Reducing traffic congestion and improving transport infrastructure and capacity
- Providing the conditions for a vibrant and successful retail and commercial economy in the City Centre.
- Valuing and protecting the agricultural resource of the area.
The Plan follows Government thinking that instead of local people being told what to do, communities should have a genuine opportunity to influence the future of the places where they live.
The Councils will be supported in drawing up the plan with technical help from Cornwall Council, Cornwall Development Company and others, and have been successful in obtaining a government grant of £20,000.
Key to the success of the Plan is the views and opinions of residents and businesses in the area and there will be wide consultation during its formation, anticipated to take one year. Once drafted, the Plan will not be put into place until a referendum of all residents in the area shows a majority of people to be in support.
The Councils have formed a Steering Committee, chaired by Sarah Newton MP, to manage the process.
Rob Nolan, Mayor of Truro said; - “When I was elected Mayor, I vowed to give local people greater control over how our City is developed. A Neighbourhood Plan differs from other Town Plans in that once it has public support, which is tested through a referendum, it becomes binding on Cornwall Council. No longer will the Planners be able to ride roughshod over local people's wishes. Today we take a big step along the road to returning Planning Control to local people”
Greg Peters, Chair of Kenwyn Parish Council said: “I am very excited about this new initiative and the fact that Truro and Kenwyn are working together to achieve what is best for all of its people”
Sarah Newton MP said: - “I am delighted to have been asked to Chair the Steering Committee and that we have been successful in seeing a “frontrunners” grant. I am looking forward to the challenge of developing a Neighbourhood Plan. I welcome any and every contribution to the development of the plan so please contact me.”