Falmouth University study centre, student rooms Pydar Truro

Cllr Rob Nolan argues that a scheme of its size should be scrutinised in public.

Pydar is a new neighbourhood proposed for the centre of the city, which will feature over 300 homes with 35% affordable/shared ownership, over 12,500 sq m of food and drink businesses, hotel and community space, a new Falmouth University campus complete with homes for 750 students as well as rooftop gardens, green spaces, sheltered courtyards and podium gardens alongside a “world-class” cultural space.

Its website currently states: “Any development will only take place if the council’s planning committee approves of the project.”

However, Rob Nolan – Liberal Democrat councillor for Truro’s Boscawen & Redannick division – says he has discovered that the Pydar plans, which currently have outline permission, will not now go to the planning committee for discussion.

An artist's impression of Pydar Square at the new Truro development (Image: Cornwall Council)

He said: “The council is not intending to bring it back to the planning committee but will just grant itself full planning permission. I support the scheme, but not going back to committee is unusual, particularly in an application involving the council. Look at Langarth where every little thing, including pumping stations, is going to committee. I’ve objected saying a scheme of this size should be discussed and decided in public, not behind closed doors. But they’re ignoring me.”

Cllr Nolan added: “The public are entitled to expect that with this amount of public money being spent there will be scrutiny of the scheme by elected councillors as it proceeds. It will be great for Truro, but there are many things that can be changed, such as materials, height, the number of affordable units, public open space, and these decisions should be made in public subject to the scrutiny of councillors and the planning committee, and not behind closed doors.”

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council responded: “The council has agreed protocols concerning when applications are required to go to planning committee. In this instance there were no public objections received to either application, and the local Cornwall councillor confirmed that he was happy with delegated decisions being made given the support for the two planning applications from the city council and residents.”

If the project is approved, construction on the first phase will begin in late 2023/early 2024 and is anticipated to take approximately 18 months. The remaining development will be delivered over the next five to eight years.

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Cllr Nolan is also pressing the council to include an Article 4 condition ensuring that planning permission is granted before converting a house to multiple occupation. “Otherwise we’ll be overwhelmed with student lets, and our rental market is already broken,” he said. “The council say they need evidence of need, but they only have to look at Falmouth where the uncontrolled spread of student lets has caused tension in communities. It’s like saying we’ll make a decision on closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, too late!”

The council spokesperson stated that Article 4 directions are used to remove national permitted development rights.

The government applies strict criteria to the use of Article 4 directions as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). “Requests for such an order were also made at the outline application stage and the position has not changed. It is not possible to secure an Article 4 direction as part of the application process.

Any Article 4 direction needs to be considered separately and can only be brought forward where there is robust evidence that an issue exists, and an area is impacted. At this time, there is no evidence that an issue exists. We will, of course, monitor the market as the project progresses and react where necessary.”