Work has begun on constructing Fordh Langarth, one of the first elements at Langarth Garden Village, marking another key milestone for the project.
Fordh Langarth will connect all the development on the site and provide a route from the A390 through Langarth to the Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske. The interim link road, which provides access for the construction of Fordh Langarth, was completed in 2021.
During the past few months enabling works along the A390, site fencing, and vegetation clearance have been carried out by CORMAC. New pipes have been laid where the new embankments will be to carry surface water, foul water and geothermal district heating under the road. At the eastern end Cormac has been laying new ducting to enable the hospital to realign its communications cables before a new gas main, water main and low voltage cables are diverted into the new footway locations adjacent to the helipad.
The final ‘pre-commencement’ planning condition required for the construction of Fordh Langarth was formally discharged in March 2023.
Major earthwork excavators have begun work on creating the new West Langarth junction at Penstraze. This will be followed by the construction of the road to the new primary school.
“There is always a lot of work carried out behind the scenes before large projects such as this arrive at this stage” said Connor Donnithorne, the Council’s portfolio holder for transport. “The Council originally bid for government funding for Langarth Garden Village in December 2018. The £47.45m funding contract was then signed with Homes England in August 2020, with planning permission for the Garden Village and the road approved last year.
“I am very pleased to see the works really getting started.”
“This is a key piece of infrastructure for the development of the Garden Village,” said Olly Monk, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for housing and planning.
“We said at the beginning that we would be bringing forward key infrastructure such as this, as well as schools, community buildings and open and green spaces.
“We have been very clear that we are committed to delivering the masterplan as intended. We want to ensure that the design of all new homes, workplaces, amenities and public spaces within the Garden Village follow the vision set out in the masterplan.”
"It is great to see work starting on constructing this first element of the Garden Village " said Harry Lewis, of Treveth Holdings LLP and Portfolio Director for Langarth Garden Village. "Fordh Langarth is a vital part of the delivering this exciting project and I look forward to seeing it completed.
During the next 15 to 18 months the new junction will be constructed to an almost completed condition beside the existing A390. Traffic will then be temporarily diverted around the junction, enabling the road tie ins to be completed to the A390.
“Although Cormac has been working since Summer 2022 on the enabling works, it is only now that people can see works actually beginning on the site as the new junction is being built beside the existing A390,” said Tim Wood, CC Project Director.
“After several years of Cormac preliminary and detailed design it has been fantastic to finally commence the enabling works and construction phase on site” added Steve Worthington, Cormac Project Director. “The recent good weather has allowed significant progress on the earthworks working from West Langarth eastwards towards Truro with follow on drainage work now commencing on site and the new road construction to follow.
“The project is on programme and progressing well.”
The construction of Fordh Langarth is due to be completed by March 2025. Prior to this, subject to the formal approval of the necessary Reserved Matters applications, work will begin on constructing other elements of the Garden Village, including the new primary school and the first phase of housing.
Although some elements of the construction works will be visible from the A390, there is no public access to the site.
Story posted July 12 2023
