Bickland development gets go ahead after appeal: Costs fall on taxpayer
7:00am Friday 2nd November 2012 in Falmouth/Penryn
PLANS to build a new industrial estate on land between Falmouth and Budock Water have been given the go-ahead after an appeal.
The decision has been slammed as “irresponsible”, with objectors warning it will “destroy a vital resource for future generations”.
The application had previously been refused by both Falmouth Town Council and Cornwall Council.
Local taxpayers will now have to pay for the legal cost of the appeal after a government inspector ruled Cornwall Council would have to pick up the bill.
The plans will see an extension to the W.C. Rowe factory, plus 12 bespoke industrial units built at the site.
A second application for a new housing development adjoining the site is expected to be submitted shortly. The decision has been slammed by objectors from both Budock Water and Falmouth.
John Bastin, chairman of Budock Water Parish Council, said: “I am extremely disappointed with this outcome.
“This land and its ancient historical links is more than just another building site – it has a character of its own with great aesthetic and spiritual value, to destroy it will not 'develop' our community it will bring about its demise.
“Those who have any grasp of current affairs will realise that fuel price increases are being reflected in the price of food and this will continue to escalate.
“A glimpse into the future would see that locally produced food is the only answer and good quality local agricultural land will have premium importance and value. “To squander this resource on speculative development, particularly in the existing economic climate, would not only be irresponsible but destroy a vital resource for future generations.”
Diana Merrett, chairman of Falmouth Town Council’s planning committee, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the decision.
She said: “The local development framework plans, which set out where can be developed in Falmouth and Penryn, do not even recognise Budock Water or Mabe, they are just being ignored.
“It means we are set to lose these two communities, and lose their two councils.
“It is not just that though, they are building on Grade Two agricultural land and they are building on the greenbelt.
“This is just the beginning as well – once this goes ahead there is a second application for the adjoining fields for 140 houses.
“We will also see the plans for 300 homes at Kergilliack Farm go ahead, as well as those for thousands of houses in the area around Menehay Farm.”
WC Rowe were unavailable for comment.
Follow the Bickland development row:
Date set for twice refused Bickland Water Road industrial units appeal
Housing plans mean 'total destruction' of green buffer
Real heart of Bickland factory application is bid to break development boundary
Developers appeal against refusal of Bickland industrial development
Comments(3)
dukeoffalmouth
says...
7:02pm Fri 2 Nov 12
lifeboatboy
says...
1:56pm Mon 5 Nov 12
Shame on those who passed the application,and shame on the Company for making it in the first case,thus bringing more of a tax burden on Locals to pay for it.
ucsweb says...
1:10pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Building industrial units on green and agricultural land for companies that don't exist, the surrounding industrial estates already have several empty units. No matter how many times an application is considered, objected to or refused it will get pushed through eventually. Falmouth will never get this land back.
Objectors will always be considered as a load of nimby's who don't really count.
There is no such thing as strategic planning in the Falmouth / Penryn area and no overall plan for the future. There never will be because, if it doesn't exist they don't need to defend or explain it.”