Inox Group, the Exeter-based company behind a £400 million development on the edge of Truro, has welcomed a High Court decision to refuse permission for a judicial review of the planning consent for the scheme.
The High Court has refused an application by Truro City Council to apply for judicial review of Cornwall Council’s decision to grant the Inox scheme outline planning permission earlier this year.
The court also rejected a bid by Truro City Council to secure a protective costs order which would have capped its liability for legal costs.
Cornwall Council approved an application from Inox for 1,500 new homes – including 525 affordable homes – plus a primary school, care village, community centre, hotel and a 600-space extension to the Threemilestone Park and Ride on land at Langarth Farm in July this year.
The development would also create some of the shared infrastructure for the proposed Stadium for Cornwall, which was granted planning permission in April this year.
Inox managing director, Rob Saltmarsh, said: “Inox is naturally delighted that the Judge has dismissed the application for judicial review of the Langarth planning permission and also the application by Truro City Council for cost protection. Although we are entitled to pursue the council for our own legal costs, we have decided not to do so.
“Inox appreciates that Truro City Council was exercising its democratic right in bringing this case, but we felt from the outset that there were no justifiable grounds for the claim. We understand that the City Council could still ask for the case to be heard in open court, but sincerely hope that this ruling is an end to the matter.
“Our anticipated start date on site has obviously been put back by these delays, but we are now looking to commence construction during 2015 and we look forward to working up the reserved matters planning applications.
“Although a separate project, Inox remains fully committed to securing funding for the Stadium for Cornwall and we will do all we can to make this project a reality. The stadium remains a hugely exciting opportunity for the whole of Cornwall.”
