Cornish Social & Economic Research Group
» News Archive » News - April 2008
_______________________________________________Hayle Harbour Regeneration Plans Submitted,
This Is Cornwall, 30 April 2008
CoSERG comment
Once again more hype about the plans for Hayle, with assumptions that building more houses equals regeneration, that more houses will revitalise the town. The reality is less appealing, more homes simply to meet unrealistic government targets; more homes to encourage and enable more people to move to Cornwall. Eighty-three percent of the dwellings will be unaffordable and hence marketed in more prosperous parts of the UK. As for the jobs they will be required to ensure that people in the new dwellings will have a job rather than upgrading the local workforce. As for the 60-bedroom hotel, marina and sailing club, these proposals simply perpetuate Cornwall’s over-dependence on tourism and also cater for the needs of the more affluent incomers rather than creating a vibrant, sustainable economy.
After waiting for so many years, Hayle simply gets another developer-led, mish mash of tried, tested and unsuitable proposals. Hayle needs and deserves a better deal, one, which focuses on, providing affordable houses for the local community; creates long-term, well paid jobs; and provides a good sustainable public transport system. A plan for the 21st century not the late 20th. For More....www.thisiscornwall
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Developer Says Luxury Holiday Complex Will Be 'World Class',
This Is Cornwall, 17 April 2008
The multi-million pound luxury holiday complex to replace the Ponsmere Hotel will be 'world class' with a restaurant run by a celebrity chef, the developer has said. In a public exhibition at the hotel last week, developer Robert Kidd unveiled striking plans for the proposed 78 one-to three-bed self catering flats.
He told The West Briton, "It will take Perranporth upmarket and bring development to the town which it hasn't had for years. The flats would cost about £250,000 to £350,000. Restrictions would be placed on occupancy and for the rest of the year owners could let the properties through an agency."
CoSERG comment So more luxury dwellings for Perranporth. Ideal for investment as people will be able to let and therefore obtain more revenue. Is this really the best approach to tourism? There is a problem here. More dwellings are being built but not for local need, developers make more profit by providing for the luxury or tourist part of the market. If properties were locally owned by the community and then used for holiday lets and hence profits were redistributed to the community there might be some benefit for the local community. There would also be the option of converting to housing use if required. Cornwall needs an alternative policy, otherwise we will end up with more social division, over-development and a lack of affordable housing.
News source.... www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
For more images/photos click on thumnail below
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Supermarket Plan Causes Traffic Fears,
This Is Cornwall, 10 April 2008
Plans for a new supermarket - said to be Sainsbury's - have been recommended for refusal by Helston Town Council. The council's planning committee, meeting on Thursday, was discussing an outline proposal on land at the Flambards Experience. Terrace Hill Developments want to build a 55,000 square foot store there, together with a filling station, servicing and other development. But Keith Reynolds, who introduced and spoke on the application to his fellow committee members, was unhappy about certain aspects of the application.
He was concerned about the size of the building and said: "I am extremely concerned about an additional roundabout right next to Hospital Cross on that road, and I don't know what the answer is." He also questioned figures given in a retail assessment by Terrace Hill regarding the likely effect on Helston's shopping centre. He wanted Kerrier's planners to "robustly" test the assessment. Mrs Matthew was also concerned about the possible effect of another supermarket, Helston's fourth and the third located out-of-town, on town centre shops and businesses.
CoSERG Comment
The rush to develop more retail sites at Helston continues with this latest proposal. Developers are adept at exploiting the planning system and finding a rationale for more development. Questions need to be asked about the impact of new stores on car use and existing town centres. New stores on the outskirts of Helston may well attract more traffic from other areas and will certainly impact on the town centre. The statement by Flambards indicates the fragile basis of the tourist sector and an increasing dependence on retail as the new means of job creation.
Another example of development taking priority over community and sustainability. For More....www.thisiscornwall
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Completion Of Luxury Development Due By Mid-Summer,
This Is Cornwall, 10 April 2008
Completion of the luxury Monterey development at Porthleven's Methleigh Bottoms is due by mid-summer, agents said this week. The show apartment was opened over Easter. A spokesperson for the developer said: "Reflecting the Cornish character, the Monterey apartments have been carefully scaled to fit this important and sensitive location, while offering creative, innovative and practical, modern living spaces."
Being offered for sale through Bray & Co, independent, local estate agents, there are only four one bedroom apartments, six two double bedroom townhouses, and one two-bedroom ground floor apartment still available. Prices start from £219,500 for a one-bedroom apartment. A colour brochure and price list is available by contacting Bray & Co Estate Agents in Helston on
CoSERG Comment
This news story illustrates that despite all the calls for affordable housing the ‘market’ is concentrating on the luxury end of the market. At some stage there will no doubt be plans to build on any green spaces that the community still has access to in the area! For More.... www.thisiscornwall
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At last, we have a problem in Camborne-Redruth - Sign of the Times?,
This Is Cornwall, 10 April 2008
Camborne and Redruth are in danger of becoming ghettos on the outskirts of a new major conurbation. And perhaps it would be called anything from "Redborne" to "Camruth" or even "CPR City". That is a fear shared by Redruth mayor John Hayward and Camborne town councillor Dave Biggs, both ardent followers of regeneration efforts in the area. They believe the towns are in danger of losing their unique identities and all the history and heritage that go with them. Both men are becoming increasingly alarmed at the use of the term “CPR” in plans and official documents, with no reference to the individual communities.
"If you want to live in CPR in the future, then do nothing. But if you want to live in Camborne, Pool and Redruth then speak out now and make your voices heard before it's too late.” Cllr Biggs has been studying development proposals being put forward by Kerrier Council's major projects team, CPR Regeneration Company and SWRDA. He describes the expansion plans for Camborne and Redruth as "greater than the current size of Truro", which he predicts will have dire consequences.
CoSERG Comment
Although welcome, it is of great concern that local councillors have realised somewhat belatedly that government plans for Camborne-Redruth and the adjacent communities will result in the obliteration of the environment and existing community. CoSERG highlighted the threats some time ago, both in submissions to the Area Action Plan and sent documents to local councillors.
The planned expansion will do nothing to provide affordable housing and it will certainly not regenerate the economy. If house building were ‘driver’ of regeneration, Cornwall would have been regenerated years ago!
It is essential that elected representatives and the community protest against proposals that are unsustainable, unwise and irrelevant to Cornwall’s needs. For More.... www.thisiscornwall
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Housing Plans For Play Field Site,
BBC News, 10 April 2008
People in a Cornish town are asking the local council not to approve proposals to build affordable housing on a children's' recreational site. Bodmin Town Council owns the play area beside Moor View, which local residents say hundreds of children use. A development company planning to build homes on a nearby industrial site has said that it will put up more than £60,000 to upgrade the play area.
The council said no planning application has yet been made. Affordable housing is a major concern for the council and the county. In the encompassing district alone, North Cornwall District Council has 3,400 applicants on its housing waiting list. In 2007, 500 private homes were built and somewhere between 400 and 700 are needed each year for the next 20 years, and the town council is expected to make planning decisions to contribute towards that.
CoSERG Comment
Another example of where green spaces are being threatened with housing development. There is an issue of affordable housing provision in the area, yet there are a number of questions – how much of the new housing built on the old hospital site is affordable and how much is simply to attract people to move to Bodmin? Local residents cannot win under the current system where developers concentrate on the luxury end of the market and affordable houses if provided are proposed for precious green spaces. The current housing policy is fundamentally flawed. It is impossible to simply build our way out of the housing crisis.
It is essential that elected representatives and the community protest against proposals that are unsustainable, unwise and irrelevant to Cornwall’s needs. For More.... BBC News
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Call To Remove Holiday Home Ads At Airport Fails,
West Briton, 10 April 2008
A Lanner councillor has lost his battle to have posters advertising holiday homes at Newquay Airport removed. Cllr Mark Kaczmarek was angered when he discovered the posters and tabled a motion to have them removed from the county council-owned site. His proposal, which was seconded by Cllr Graeme Hicks, Redruth, read, "At a time when there is so much concern that the housing requirements of outsiders are taking precedence over the needs of local people, this county council yet again demonstrates its own inadequacy and incompetence by displaying on its own building at Newquay Airport, advertisements designed to promote second home ownership.”
He continued, "To rectify this serious situation, which is so detrimental to the interests of our people, we propose that such notices be removed as a matter of urgency and that, henceforth, a consistent and a vigorous regard for the legitimate interests of the very people we purport to serve is relentlessly pursued." Cllr Kaczmarek's motion was heavily defeated at last week's meeting of the county council, but he remained defiant.
CoSERG Comment
There is a clear conflict between encouraging second home ownership and meeting the housing needs of people in Cornwall. More second homes have an impact on the prices that people can (not) afford to pay for houses.
It is essential that elected representatives and the community protest against proposals that are unsustainable, unwise and irrelevant to Cornwall’s needs. For More.... www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Supermarket Plan Causes Traffic Fears,
West Briton, 10 April 2008
Plans for a new supermarket - said to be Sainsbury's - have been recommended for refusal by Helston Town Council. The council's planning committee, meeting on Thursday, was discussing an outline proposal on land at the Flambards Experience. Terrace Hill Developments want to build a 55,000 square foot store there, together with a filling station, servicing and other development. But Keith Reynolds, who introduced and spoke on the application to his fellow committee members, was unhappy about certain aspects of the application. He was concerned about the size of the building and said, "I am extremely concerned about an additional roundabout right next to Hospital Cross on that road, and I don't know what the answer is." He also questioned figures given in a retail assessment by Terrace Hill regarding the likely effect on Helston's shopping centre. He wanted Kerrier's planners to "robustly" test the assessment. Mrs Matthew was also concerned about the possible effect of another supermarket, Helston's fourth and the third located out-of-town, on town centre shops and businesses.
CoSERG Comment
The rush to develop more retail sites at Helston continues with this latest proposal. Developers are adept at exploiting the planning system and finding a rationale for more development.
Questions need to be asked about the impact of new stores on car use and existing town centres. New stores on the outskirts of Helston may well attract more traffic from other areas and will certainly impact on the town centre. The statement by Flambards indicates the fragile basis of the tourist sector and an increasing dependence on retail as the new means of job creation. Another example of development taking priority over community and sustainability.
It is essential that elected representatives and the community protest against proposals that are unsustainable, unwise and irrelevant to Cornwall’s needs. For More.... www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
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Plans for 5,000 clay pit houses,
This Is Cornwall, 8 April 2008
Plans to redevelop six areas of Cornwall's china clay country and build 5,000 homes have been unveiled by china clay company Imerys.
Imerys want to build at six locations: Par Docks, Bugle, Nanpean, West Carclaze, Baal and Blackpool clay pit. If successful, the company hopes the project, which will be built over a 20-year period, will create new jobs, renewable energy and leisure activities in some of the county's most deprived areas. There are plans for two new primary schools and the construction of a marina, complete with cafes and shops, in Par.
Following the original announcement an MK press release criticised the proposal. Cllr Dick Cole, who is also MK’s prospective parliamentary candidate for St Austell and Newquay, believes that the amount of housing planned for the St Austell Area is unsustainable. “Such a large amount of house-building is clearly not about meeting local needs and is excessive and unsustainable. It is my view that the implications of such growth has not been thought through.”
Cllr Dick Cole was particularly critical of how the Government has handled the whole eco-town initiative. “The statement from central government claims that the proposal ‘forms part of a major regeneration programme which is being taken forward with extensive involvement between IMERYS and Restormel BC, Cornwall CC and South West RDA.’ “The truth is that, in advance of the short-listing, the Government never sought Restormel Borough Council’s view about the eco-town proposal, in terms of its scale, location or appropriateness. The Imerys proposal has simply bypassed the democratic process thus far.”
For More.... MK Blogspot
CoSERG Comment
Once again we see ‘a big housing development’ being badged as good for the community in a deprived area with – more facilities provided. Yet much of this is pure hype. The plans simply fall in with the government’s plans for excessive housing across Cornwall. Housing development does not aid regeneration, it will not provide additional facilities for the existing population, such facilities will be there to ‘accommodate’ the extra growth. An eco-town is an example of how the imagination of government policy maker’s reality, attempting to justify the unjustifiable with the use of some ‘green sounding’ words and phrases.
For More.... news.bbc.co.uk