Residents Share Views on Cornwall Local Plan 2050

What Will Cornwall Look Like in 2050? Residents Speak Out

Residents across Cornwall have been sharing their views on how they want the Duchy to develop over the next 25 years, as part of early work on the new Cornwall Local Plan.

Over six months, 24 drop in events were held across Cornwall in what the council describes as the first phase of an extensive programme of public engagement. The sessions were designed to gather feedback from communities to help shape the Cornwall Local Plan 2050.

The council is now analysing the feedback received.

Strong Turnout at Community Sessions

Sarah Preece, Cornwall Council cabinet member for planning, said the informal consultation phase has now come to an end.

She said:

“Having come to the end of this informal consultation phase, we are now looking at all the feedback received during the community sessions.

“We’ve had fantastic engagement and are really pleased with how many people turned out to share their views on the things that are important to them about where they live and any changes they would like to see happen over the next 20 years.

“Residents have been telling us about the issues that matter to them. These include the need for more affordable and social housing, improved transport links and health services, and protecting Cornwall’s culture and heritage and nature and the environment. They are also really interested in energy and making sure that we have sustainable ways of providing energy in the right places.”

More information about the plan is available on the council’s website here: Cornwall Local Plan 2050.

Capturing Every Voice

The drop in sessions were led by Creative Kernow.

Gregg Whelan, chief executive of Creative Kernow, said the events focused on listening to people directly in their own communities.

He said:

“We have been able to spend time talking with and listening to individuals about what is on their minds around where they live, the issues they are facing and the things they’d like to see improved.

“Everything which was said at all the different events was captured by members of our team. As well as providing the comments to Cornwall Council to inform the next stage of the Local Plan, we have also shared it back with the communities themselves. This means that people have been able to see that they have been listened to and also to hear what other people in their town or village have said about the place they live.”

Residents Call for Early Involvement

Several residents who attended the sessions spoke about why they felt it was important to take part.

Ruth said:

“If you want to get things right, you need to involve people from the start. If people feel part of the process, they take ownership of it. If you take ownership of your community then everything else falls into place.”

Dean added:

“It is important that people don’t just wait until something is done and then complain about it. We all need to say what we would like to see in our communities if we want our children and grandchildren to have nice places to live.”

James said he attended because he was concerned about future development:

“We need to make sure that what happens in the future is what local people and communities really want and what really need.”

Darren said:

“Our voices need to be heard to ensure that plan is fit for purpose, not just for today, but for the future.”

What Happens Next?

Sarah Preece said the new Local Plan will guide development in Cornwall up to 2050.

She said:

“The new Cornwall Local Plan will take us up to 2050. It will define where we build, how we build, how many houses we build, how the schools and the workplaces are all connected, how much infrastructure we need, where our health services will be, and where we need to have our buses and car parking and bicycle tracks.

“We know that local communities can often feel that development happens to them without consultation. The Local Plan is an opportunity to make sure that everyone can have a real say about where development should be, so we get the right development in the right places in the future.”

Following the drop in events, the Local Plan team will continue discussions with residents and organisations over the coming months as work progresses.

Feedback gathered during this informal stage will feed into the Draft Cornwall Local Plan. Once formal approval is given to proceed, the council will have 30 months to complete the document. It is expected to be ready in late Spring 2027.

Further public consultation and engagement is planned for Summer 2027, after which a revised Draft Local Plan will be produced, incorporating public and stakeholder comments.

The next phase is due to be completed by Spring 2028, when the plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State ahead of a formal public inquiry led by an independent Planning Inspector. Cornwall Council is expected to decide on adoption of the Local Plan at the end of 2028.