CORNWALL’S Local Plan — a document that if in place could have prevented planning permission being granted for a controversial housing scheme in Launceston — is ‘quite an achievement’, a meeting heard recently.

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin, Adam Paynter, who is also the deputy leader of Cornwall Council, attended the meeting of Launceston Town Council on November 15, where he gave an update on the Local Plan.

The Local Plan identifies the quantity and distribution of growth for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment.

Cornwall?Councillors have since voted to accept and adopt the Local Plan (see page 5).

Cllr Paynter said: “It’s quite an achievement of several years.”

He said the area had been ‘feeling the effects for a few years’ of not having a Local Plan in place, and referred to Upper Chapel — developer Hallam Land Management has planning permission to build more than 100 homes there. The developer’s first application for housing was initially turned down by Cornwall Council, before later being given the go-ahead at appeal.

“It was probably the most expensive planning application Cornwall Council has ever fought. The Local Plan is very important. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly better than no plan at all.”