Work could start next year on 500 new homes at Langarth Farm near Truro after Cornwall Council approved plans for a new mixed use development.

The homes are the first phase of around 1,500, to be built alongside restaurant, retail, industrial and distribution space, as well as a hotel primary school, residential care home, park and ride expansion and community and public space, planned by Inox Group and Exemplar Projects.

In 2013 the developers secured outline planning permission for the scheme, and on Thursday the council's strategic planning committee supported more detailed plans for the first 494 homes and associated infrastructure.

Inox has said research it recently commissioned shows the initial phases would "generate 60 new jobs and boost the local economy by £15 million a year."

Meanwhile the company also claims the whole scheme will grow Cornwall's economy by up to £81 million a year by 2036 and create 1,550 permanent jobs, while swelling the council coffers to he tune of around £74 million through local government revenues including Section 106 payments, council tax, business rates and New Homes Bonus.

Rob Saltmarsh, managing director of Inox Group, said: "We are very pleased that the strategic planning committee has approved the detail of the first two phases of Langarth Farm and delighted that this important development for Truro and Cornwall has taken a significant step towards commencement.

“The need for a steady supply of new homes across the duchy is well understood and the new research by Savills into the economic benefits of Langarth Farm shows the welcome boost this will bring in terms of employment and private sector investment at what is an uncertain time for the UK economy and Cornwall in particular.

“Inox is in discussion with the Homes and Communities Agency and Cornwall Council on how we can bring forward as early as possible the infrastructure which will serve Langarth Farm and which will also support our adjacent development at West Langarth and the delivery of the Stadium for Cornwall project, which has already received full planning permission.”

“Taken together these schemes have the potential to generate an estimated £104 million of gross additional GVA which represents a substantial benefit for both Truro and Cornwall more widely.”

Subject to agreement on the fine details of the consent, Inox is aiming to start on site at Langarth Farm in spring 2017.