People in Helston and Wendron will have the chance to say whether a proposed site for new homes in the town will be developed from the very beginning.
Michael Griffin, project director for the Helston North East Partnership, described it as a “blank sheet” that those living near the site could have their say on from the start.
It is a piece of agricultural land owned by farmer and developer Mark Rowe, through his company Jackamax, which is next to the former Gwealdues Hotel. It is one of three highlighted in Cornwall Council’s draft Helston Town Framework as potentially suitable sites to develop.
When published last March the document, which looked at everything from housing to healthcare and education, suggested an extra 900 homes needed to be built in the town over the subsequent 20 years, with 40 per cent of them affordable.
It was believed around half of these could be built around the existing “urban area.”
For the rest, three possible sites were highlighted: the Bulwark area, Bosnoweth near the link road and the Trenethick area to the north east of the town.
It is “HX1”, the Trenethick site that is the first to be taken up as an option – although it remains up the public to say what they want.
Mr Griffin said this way of developing land was “quite different, explaining: “We work with the community to come up with a plan. That’s why, at the moment, it’s a blank sheet.
“We’ll be putting a working group together, then come up with ideas and consult.”
It means that almost all options are on the table, including the possibility of additional facilities such as a community centre becoming part of the development, if this was highlighted as necessary.
Investigations are being sent out to selected bodies and individuals, ahead of the first workshop towards the end of this month.
The first full public consultation should then take place at the start of March. Further workshops and drop-in sessions will then take place until a planning application can be developed, with the aim of submitting it in the summer.
“It’s got to be about what works for the community,” said Mr Griffin. “It would be nice to find a win-win solution.
“It’s really about public participation. That’s what we’re interested in.”
Information is available via the project’s dedicated website www.helstonnepartnership.info
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