The Party for Cornwall brands housing projections as unsustainable and not linked to local need

Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall has blasted the latest version of the ‘Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West’ (RSS) which plans to massively increase house-building in Cornwall.

The findings of the ‘Examination in Public’ into the RSS, produced by the unelected SW Regional Assembly, were released on Wednesday (9th January) and contained the bombshell that 68,700 houses should be built in Cornwall over the next 20 years.

The proposed increases for Cornwall are greater than those suggested for other parts of the South West.

Commenting on the news, MK Party Leader Cllr Dick Cole said:

“It is mind-boggling how a handful of people in unelected and unaccountable SW quango-land can come up with such ridiculous proposals which, if allowed to proceed, will have a disastrous impact on Cornish communities, our local environment and infrastructure.”

The original Draft RSS was published in 2006 and proposed that a hefty 45,000 houses be built in Cornwall over the next 20 years. The new figures represent a further increase of 53% which equates to an extra 23,700 properties.

The document outlines that the housing should be spread across Cornwall as follows:

• Caradon – 6,500 housing units (an increase of 700 on the original document)
• Carrick - 10,900 housing units (an increase of 900)
• Kerrier – 14,400 housing units (an increase of 6,200)
• North Cornwall – 13,400 housing units (an increase of 5,800)
• Penwith - 7,800 housing units (an increase of 3,000)
• Restormel - 15,700 housing units (an increase of 7,100)

Cllr Cole, who represent St Enoder Ward on Restormel Borough Council and chairs its Policy and Scrutiny 4 (planning policy) committee, added:

“Local councils in Cornwall have been working hard to develop policies to meet the existing needs of Cornish communities and provide affordable housing for local people.

“But this has been made difficult by central and regional government continuously moving the goalposts and undermining local initiatives. In Restormel, our main policy document (‘Core Strategy’) was thrown out by an Inspector who knew little or nothing about Cornwall and now suddenly we have this announcement that 15,700 houses should be built in Restormel - a massive increase of over 80% on the document’s original figures.

“It is simply unacceptable that such increases in housing can so casually be imposed on Cornwall, without recourse to the democratic process or any consideration of what is right for the people of Cornwall.”

Cllr Cole, who is also MK’s housing spokesman and its PPC for St Austell and Newquay, added:

“I understand that there will be a consultation on the document in the Spring though, like many people in Cornwall at the moment, I have very little faith in government consultations.

“We may feel that the democratic process is failing Cornwall, but it is vital that that Cornwall unites to demand a complete rethink of these unsustainable and unwanted proposals.”

Cllr Richard Clark, who is MK’s prospective parliamentary candidate for the St Ives constituency, has meanwhile demanded that strategies which effect Cornish communities should be devised locally.

“House-building targets should be determined within the context of a strategic plan for sustainable and environmentally benign economic development, directed to secure economic prosperity and affordable housing for the people of Cornwall.

“All such public policy decisions should be taken by democratically elected Cornish politicians, responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people whom they are elected to serve.”

In Kerrier, the RSS document suggests that an urban extension of other 5,000 new houses be constructed somewhere in the Camborne/Pool/Redruth area.

Local MK district councillor Stuart Cullimore, who serves Camborne West, described himself as shocked by the sudden announcement. He said:

“Where is the democracy in this? When were local people and their democratically-elected representatives informed about these large increases? When was the consultation?

“It is little wonder that people are becoming so disengaged with the democratic process when decisions of such political, social and economic importance can be made in a darkened room by a very small group of individuals.

“Now is the time for Cornwall and its communities to speak up loud and clear and tell central government what we want for our future.”

DOWNLOAD THE PETITION HERE