During the past four months people in 18 towns and villages across Cornwall have come along to one of a series of community drop-in events held by Cornwall Council to support the development of the new Cornwall Local Plan.
Sarah Preece, Cornwall Council cabinet member for planning, said:
“The current Cornwall Local Plan was formally adopted in 2016 and covers the period from 2010 up to 2030.
“The Council is now developing a new Local Plan that will take us to 2050. This will define where we build, how we build, how many houses we build, how the schools and the workplaces are all connected, how much infrastructure we need, where our health services will be, and where we need to have our buses and car parking and bicycle tracks.
”It really is a plan for the future of Cornwall and we want to make sure that it reflects the views of everyone who lives and works here."
Led by Creative Kernow, the informal drop ins provide an opportunity for local people to share their views on the things that are important to them about where they live and any changes they would like to see happen over the next 20 years.
Hundreds of people have already attended the first series of workshops to have their say about the future of Cornwall. So far events have been held in Penzance and St Ives, Truro and Tregony, Bodmin and Wadebridge, Camborne and Redruth, Liskeard and Saltash, St Austell and Lostwithiel, Falmouth and Penryn, Perranporth and Newquay, and Callington and Launceston.
Cllr Preece said:
“I would like to thank everyone who has attended one of these events. People in all these different towns and villages have been talking to us about what is important to them.
“While some of the comments have been specific to a local area, emphasising the importance of protecting local landmarks or historic buildings and maintaining existing community identities, there are a number of general themes which have emerged. These include the need for housing, especially affordable and social homes, schools, healthcare, improved public transport, better facilities for young people, jobs, parking and the importance of protecting the natural environment.
“Many of those attending the sessions have told us they welcome the opportunity to have their say at this early stage in developing the plan so they can help to shape the future of the place they live and work.
“The final events in this phase of the engagement programme will take place in January, with workshops in Bude and Camelford on 14 January; Bugle and St Stephen on 21 January and in Mullion and Helston on 28 January and I would encourage people living and working in these communities to come along and give us their views."
Information on Local Plan drop-in eventsThe first phase in developing the new Local Plan involves establishing a Vision for Cornwall which will link all the different areas of the plan.
The drop in events are not the only opportunity for people to have their say, however. The Local Plan team will be having conversations with different people and organisations across Cornwall over the coming months as work on preparing the plan progresses.
Once all the events have taken place, the team will be analysing the feedback from local people and communities to produce the first draft of the Vision by Summer 2026. Formal public consultation will then take place in Autumn 2026.
The feedback from this consultation will be used to develop the Draft Local Plan which is expected to be completed in late Spring 2027. Following further public consultation and engagement over Summer 2027 a revised Draft Plan will be produced which incorporates all the comments made by the public and stakeholders.
This phase is due to be completed by Spring 2028 when it will be submitted to the Secretary of State ahead of a formal public inquiry led by an independent Planning Inspector. Cornwall Council is expected to make a decision on whether to adopt the Local Plan at the end of 2028.