PA23/05311: Nearly 100 new houses could be coming to Wadebridge in new plans submitted to Cornwall Council.  

New Barn Farm Ltd have applied to the local authority for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening for a proposed 91 dwelling development at land south of Cleavelands, Cleaveland, Wadebridge.  

An EIA is where a developer proposing to build a development asks the Council whether an environmental statement is required to support an application for planning permission for a development. 

The site has previously been subject to proposals for a large-scale development previously. In 2016, an outline planning application for a one form entry primary school, residential development of 190 dwellings with public open space, landscaping, associated infrastructure, demolition of buildings and vehicular access from The Culvery and Meadowhead with all matters reserved except access was refused by Cornwall Council.  

At the time of refusing the application, which was later refused again after an appeal, Cornwall Council said: “The proposal is not sustainable development; the benefits of the scheme are outweighed by: “The loss of 6.37 hectares of Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land; The conflict from the additional vehicular traffic generated by the development using The Platt, including its roundabout junction with Molesworth Street, and other users of this road, including cyclists utilising the Camel Trail.  

“The contribution proposed by the Applicant towards the Wadebridge Transportation Strategy fails to fully mitigate this impact due to the lack of certainty as to when the improvement works within the Transportation Strategy would be delivered within a reasonable timeframe. 

“The proposal would result in additional vehicle traffic using The Culvery and Trevanion Road junction and the application fails to submit a suitable design to ensure the safety for all road users at this part of the road network, including pedestrians and cyclists. 

“The failure of the proposal to provide safe access to pedestrians accessing the proposal via a section along Trevanion Road which is narrow in width and contains no footpath. 

“The application is therefore contrary to saved Policy DVS5 of the North Cornwall District Local Plan, Policies 22 and 27 of the emerging Cornwall Local Plan and paragraphs 7, 8, 14, 17, 32 and 112 of the National Planning Policy Framework.” 

The application had received 79 objections from members of the public, in addition to Wadebridge Town Council, who said: “The harm outweighs the benefit. Not supported due to the risk presented to public safety. The safety of pedestrians on foot or bikes cannot be assured due to the increased volume of traffic that this development would present. Public safety issues on The Platt (a main thoroughway through the centre of Wadebridge) would be exacerbated. 

“Roundabouts on The Platt are already at maximum capacity and the S106 mitigation the development offers cannot justify the risk presented to public safety.”  

In the new application for an EIA, the dev lopers, New Barn Limited described the development as: “The proposed development comprises up to 91 dwellings, including a 30% provision for affordable homes, with associated access and landscaping on 4.4 hectares of Grade 3 agricultural land. The site is located adjacent and to the south of the defined settlement boundary of Wadebridge. urban drainage system (SuDS).”