A legal challenge to planning permission for a multi-million pound retail-led development on the edge of Truro that will fund the £10 million Stadium for Cornwall has been thrown out.
London-based property investment company, Helical Retail, which has its own retail-led plans to redevelop Truro City Football Club’s ground, mounted a legal challenge in October calling for a judicial review of Cornwall Council’s planning permission for West Langarth.
But that challenge has now been thrown out, clearing the way for West Langarth to go ahead.
Planning permission was first issued for West Langarth by Cornwall Council to developer Inox Group and Henry Boot Developments in July this year. Inox Group is working in partnership with Truro and Penwith College, The Cornish Pirates and Henry Boot Developments to deliver the multi-use Stadium for Cornwall at Threemilestone.
Inox managing director, Rob Saltmarsh, said: “The decision by the Court to dismiss the Judicial Review application made by Helical Retail against our West Langarth retail scheme clearly demonstrates that the application was without foundation and substance, and in our opinion purely commercially motivated.
“Now that we are able to move forward, we are meeting with interested retail parties in London this week and will be updating them with our position and reiterating our desire for them to become part of a new and highly exciting, sports, leisure and retail destination for the whole of Cornwall at Langarth.”
West Langarth includes new shops and restaurants plus a day nursery, new homes, community sports pavilion, play areas and sports pitches. Proceeds from the development will be used to fund the Stadium for Cornwall, together with a £2 million contribution from Truro & Penwith College.
The Stadium for Cornwall is a multi-use sports and education facility that will be a permanent home for the Cornish Pirates and a venue for other sports. It will house the Truro & Penwith College business centre, plus its elite sport and hospitality and catering teaching facilities, including a kitchen and restaurant open to the public.
There will be a conference centre, meeting and function rooms, offering a platform for business and cultural events, including trade shows and fairs, as well as a venue for private parties, functions, weddings and concerts. It will have an initial capacity of 6,000, extendable to 10,000, and already has planning permission.
