A plan to build homes, a supermarket and a Cornish Food Hall on farmland on the outskirts of Truro could be stymied, after permission was given for a Judicial review in the High Court.
The Truro Eastern District Centre project, baked up by Waitrose, the Duchy of Cornwall, Cornwall Council and Taste of Cornwall, may face a serious legal hurdle after a judge said the major development contained "arguable flaws".
The judge is reported as saying: "I am persuaded that in the circumstances this major development permission does contain arguable flaws."
Elwyn Jones, chairman of Taste for Cornwall has called Truro City Council, "completely out of touch with their electorate, adding that their attempts to "frustrate the democratic planning process do not serve their electorate well".
The controversial £40 million project is a partnership between Cornwall Council, the Duchy of Cornwall, Waitrose and local food producer group The Taste of Cornwall. Backers say the plans will create more than 200 jobs, create housing, a park and ride, an energy centre and recycling facilities, while detractors say it will impact city centre trade.
In a close run vote, Cornwall Council’s Strategic Planning Committee approved the scheme on March 8, last year subject to approval from the Secretary of State. Work on the Park & Ride and Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) including a major upgrade to the Union Hill junction, is now expected to start early next year and take around a year to complete.
A Cornwall Council spokesman said: "Cornwall Council welcomes the High Court’s decision to bring forward without delay the hearing into Truro City Council’s judicial review in respect of the Truro Eastern District Centre. We are confident that the decision to award planning permission is lawful and we will be robustly defending the application."
Related links: City's MP says supermarket development should be called in by government
Secretary of State gives Truro Waitrose and food hall development the go-ahead
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Controversial plans for Waitrose on Truro farmland gets green light
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