More detailed plans for a possible housing development in Helston will be on show early next month as part of an ongoing public consultation.

They include the first phase of a possible future bypass for Trewennack, plus the potential for a medical centre, community building and business space.

The site in question is a piece of agricultural land owned by farmer and developer Mark Rowe, through his company Jackamax, next to the former Gwealdues Hotel.

It is one of three highlighted in Cornwall Council’s draft Helston Town Framework as potentially suitable sites to develop and referred to as HX1.

The framework highlighted the need for 900 homes to be built in the next 20 years – only half of which could be built in existing developed areas.

More than 170 people visited the first two-day drop-in session in March, to see early plans for a development in the Trenethick/Gwealdues area of the town.

The Helston North East Partnership group leading the HX1 bid claimed at the time that it could cater for all 450 of the remaining homes needed.

Since then, however, members of the Helston Town Framework have looked at all three possible sites and chose HX2, near to Helston Business Park, as their preferred option.

Now those in the Helston North East Partnership, still championing HX1, say they believe that two sites will be needed and the number of proposed homes on their site has been reduced as a result of the earlier consultation.

Their current proposals will be on show in the Guildhall in Helston on Wednesday, July 9.

Michael Griffin, the project director for the partnership, said: “We believe strongly that there is a need for more than one new site to meet Helston’s future housing needs, particularly for affordable and family homes.

“While the Helston Town Framework recently identified the HX2 site as its preferred option for an urban extension, we believe that HX1 will also be required as an additional location for new homes and that this site can deliver important benefits for the town and the adjacent communities.”

Mr Griffin said the design and content on the plans had been influenced by what people told the partnership earlier in the year.

“There are fewer homes in total, ideas about landscaping and public open space have been taken on board and 40 per cent of the homes will be affordable for local people.

“We are now working closely with Coastline Housing to counter the serious shortage of affordable homes for people in the Helston and Wendron areas and we very much hope that those in housing need will come along to see us at the consultation event,” he added.

“We want to show the public how our plans have developed and seek views on the preferred proposals before we submit a planning application.”

Members of the project team and representatives of Coastline Housing will be on hand on July 9 to discuss the proposals with members of the public between 2pm and 8pm at the Guildhall.

More details will also be provided nearer the time on the project website, www.helstonnepartnership.info so that people can comment on the plans directly if they are unable to attend the public information and drop in event.

A planning application is then expected to be submitted to Cornwall Council later this summer.