Wainhomes held a public exhibition in Launce­ston on Monday, October 13 displaying their plans for a development of 207 dwellings on land off Hurdon Way.

The exhibition, which was held in the Church Hall at St Mary Magdalene Church from 3pm to 7.30pm, was "well attended", said Development Manager Ken Lusk.

The Hurdon site is allocated for residential development in the Adopted Local Plan. However, Wainhomes said it was keen to obtain feedback on its plans for 207 dwellings, including the provision of 50 per cent affordable homes and a new play area, before a planning application was submitted. The dwellings will be a mixture of one to four bed houses and apartments.

Repre­sentatives from the development team, including the architect and planning consultant, were present to explain the plans and answer any questions.

Launceston resident Steve Williams, who lived in Hurdon for around 36 years, was among those who visited the exhibition. He said: "They're putting housing behind there but they should be looking at a hospital or doctors rather than homes."

Mr Williams also believed the developers should look into the problems additional traffic will cause and the possibility of creating a crossing. He was also concerned about the sewage system: "The sewage system that's there now gets flooded, with an extra 207 houses it's never going to take it. It won't work."

Andy Lyle of Launces­ton went along to the church hall to look at the plans. He raised issues relating to the town's infrastructure including the schools, doctors, hospital, transport and access roads.

He said: "Without new facilities we as a town cannot withstand any more housing development." He added: "I feel that any new housing developments would be detrimental to the town until the infrastructure is sorted out." 

Mr Lyle also commented: "Due to a lack of demand, Redrow have stopped building and the increase in 'for sale' boards show there is a recession in the housing market."

Mr Ken Lusk said the main concern raised at Monday's exhibition was possible traffic problems but he said that traffic impact assessments had been carried out which were "fine".

Mr Lusk said the reaction he received from residents at the exhibition was "fairly positive" and added: "Most people that I spoke to were fairly comfortable with it."

He also said that most people were pleased with the allocation of 103 affordable dwellings.

Mr Lusk estimated that a planning application would be submitted in around two to three weeks time.