Carrick House, Pydar Street, Truro: outline planning application refused by Strategic Planning committee

Cornwall Council has occupied a large part of the site adjacent to Pydar Street in Truro for many years. The Carrick District Council offices were initially used by Cornwall Council but have now been empty for a few years as the Council relocated across the road into Pydar House. The rest of the site of about 4 hectares comprises car parks, the bowling alley and a few retail units on St Clement Street. The Council has been working on plans for a major redevelopment of the site. Public consultation has been conducted extensively on the potential scheme.

The Council has put forward an outline planning application with all matters reserved for up to 320 dwellings, up to 400 student bed spaces, up to 21,000sqm of floor space to include leisure, office, hotel, community, small retail, education/innovation and food and beverage units and associated works.

The application details can be viewed on the Planning Portal under reference no. PA20/00963.

The application was considered at the Strategic Planning Committee meeting on 4 February 2021 and was refused by the committee. The decision to reject the plans followed a long debate which heard several objections, particularly from Truro City councillors. Several councillors expressed concern about the loss of car parking.

The consequence of this refusal is that the project will be put on hold whilst the team behind the project consider their options. It is likely that nothing significant will happen until after the Council elections on 6 May and the new administration that will be formed will have to decide what to do next.

February 2021