Major Cornwall masterplan set for step forward

Plans for a major mixed-use development in Cornwall – which would comprise 1,850 student beds, a budget hotel, retail parade and sport facilities – look set to take an important step forward next week.Reserved matters consent is sought for a student village on land at Penvose Farm, with outline approval having already been granted.The application has several elements, with the roundabout on the A39 set to provide the main access to the site.Proposed are 1,850 student bedspaces, a 180-space park and change facility, 319 parking spaces, a student hub, a budget hotel, family pub, a retail parade, doctors’ surgery and day nursery, business start-up units, a gym, and sports and leisure facilities.There were some changes made to the reserved matters submission from that assessed at the outline. The main ones were a reduction in the level of car parking across the site, mainly by reducing the area of the park and ride, and less development on the eastern part of the site, next to the railway line.A planning statement submitted to Cornwall Council noted that it is envisaged that “somewhere in the region” of 413 full-time jobs would be created by the various commercial, retail and accommodation support floorspace within the development.”The knock-on social, environmental and economic influence of the scheme in the surrounding area would also likely lead to the creation of additional employment opportunities,” it added.The application is now set to go before Cornwall Council’s planning committee on 15 June with a recommendation for approval.A report drawn up ahead of the meeting said: “Prior to, and during the course of, the application, significant improvements were made to address various concerns raised by consultees. It is considered that a high-quality scheme has been achieved.”In the absence of significant harm resulting from the matters which are the subject of this application and on the basis that the development does comply with the relevant policies in the development, it is recommended that reserved matters consent should be granted.”