Cornwall councillors warn Langarth housing project could be public disaster

Cornwall councillors warn Langarth housing project could be public disaster

Cornwall Council officials are facing intense criticism over the failure to deliver homes at Langarth, a major development intended to create a new town for approximately 10,000 residents. During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, July 29, councillors expressed extreme frustration with the pace of the project, with some stating they are at the end of their tether.

The "garden village" project near Truro represents the largest project for which Cornwall Council has ever secured planning permission. The overarching goal is to construct up to 4,000 low-carbon homes across five phases over a 20- to 25-year period. This residential expansion is intended to be supported by community hubs, retail spaces, health facilities, and two primary schools.

Despite these ambitions, the project has been plagued by delays. While the council reports that expenditure has remained within the approved capital budget of £260m, other economic factors have hindered progress. Officials acknowledged that infrastructure costs have risen, land values have weakened, and the timing of development has been pushed back due to the economic downturn of this decade.

Paul Ashton, the leader of Reform UK at the local authority, warned the Liberal Democrat/Independent cabinet that the project cannot fail. He stated that it would be a public disaster for Cornwall Council if the situation is not resolved.

Financial concerns were raised by Cllr Karen La Borde, who represents Gloweth, Malabar and Shortlanesend. She noted that the council has already spent over £193m on Langarth and pays at least £8m annually to service the resulting debt. Further costs include £1.1m a year to run the Langarth Garden Village Property Holdings LLP, a company under Treveth used to manage delivery. Cllr La Borde questioned the risk to taxpayers, highlighting that the council has paid an extra £1.5m for a delivery plan that has yet to materialize.

The gap between official promises and reality has become a focal point for the council's members. According to Cllr La Borde, the council promised in 2022 that housing would begin in 2023, with the first occupations in 2024 and a delivery rate of about 150 homes per year. Additionally, another delivery plan was promised in the spring of 2026, accompanied by an additional £1.5m investment.

Cllr Dulcie Tudor, member for the Threemilestone and Chacewater division, challenged council leader Cllr Leigh Frost on his previous assertions. She reminded him that he had said he would be bloody livid if no homes were built by the end of his current term.

When asked if he believes houses will be delivered by 2029, Cllr Frost replied: I believe that there will be houses delivered at Langarth by 2029, yes, because I’ll be bloody livid if they’re not.

The council has claimed that substantial progress has been made, citing the establishment of a design code, existing planning permissions, and the completion of major strategic infrastructure. This includes the Northern Access Road, known as Fordh Langarth, which opened in May.

However, Cllr Frost admitted during the meeting that the current model for delivery is not working. He described the current situation as an interim arrangement. The council is now attempting to accelerate the process by gaining detailed reserved matters planning approval while continuing discussions with developers.

The urgency of the situation was echoed by Cllr Rob Parsonage, who insisted that a detailed plan for housing must be available by the end of the year. He suggested that if this deadline is missed, there should be a serious review of who is taking the project forward, specifically mentioning the council and Treveth.

The next critical milestone for the project is in December, when a full business plan is expected to be presented to the cabinet.