Four ways Saltash could grow, and one adds 4,300 homes

Picture Saltash a generation from now. Is it a bigger version of the town you know, a town with a new neighbourhood stretching west, or a ring of new villages with green gaps in between? Saltash Town Council has drawn up four possible answers, and it wants to hear what you make of them.

The council calls the exercise scenario planning. It is a way of thinking about the long-term future of the town by looking at different ways it could evolve, and the positives and negatives of each. The council is clear that the scenarios are not a list of options to vote on. The point is to get a feel for what residents like, what worries them and what matters most.

📷The two constants in all four scenarios. Credit: Saltash Town Council

What happens whichever way Saltash grows

Two things are the same in all four scenarios. The first is growth at Treledan, which is already part of Cornwall Council’s Local Plan. The second is redeveloping previously used land in the town centre and in the Waterside area.

Everything else is where the scenarios part ways, from how many new homes there would be to where they would go and what would come with them.

The four scenarios

Each scenario comes with the council’s own summary of what it would bring and where the trade-offs lie. The housing figures are approximate.

📷Scenario 1: New Saltash. Credit: Saltash Town Council

Scenario 1: New Saltash

Around 2,800 new homes, with Saltash growing in each direction. It would include a new primary school, a new health centre and travel improvements to serve Pill.

The council’s summary says it would improve access to school places and healthcare, but would need better active travel and public transport links to connect the new homes. It brings no new employment land, would have an impact on the landscape, and the widespread growth would limit what can be delivered in the way of infrastructure.

📷Scenario 2: Greater Treledan. Credit: Saltash Town Council

Scenario 2: Greater Treledan

The same figure of around 2,800 new homes, but concentrated on the western side of town. This one includes a new primary school, a new health centre and major active travel and bus service links.

Growing in one direction, to the west, is said to strengthen the delivery of infrastructure, and the landscape impact would be limited to the west. There would be some new employment land. The summary also flags possible competition with the town centre.

📷Scenario 3: North Expansion. Credit: Saltash Town Council

Scenario 3: North Expansion

The smallest of the four, with around 1,800 new homes on the northern side of the town. Like the first scenario, it comes with a new primary school, a new health centre and travel improvements to serve Pill.

It would bring significant new employment land and improve access to school places and healthcare. On the other side of the ledger, there would be an impact on the landscape, and widespread town growth would limit delivery for infrastructure.

📷Scenario 4: Today's Saltash and New Villages. Credit: Saltash Town Council

Scenario 4: Today’s Saltash and New Villages

The biggest by far, at around 4,300 new homes. Rather than spreading the town outwards, this scenario keeps today’s Saltash and adds new villages around it, with the stated aim of preventing settlements merging. The council’s map shows new communities at places including Trematon and Trehan, alongside Treledan, Carkeel and Pill.

It would bring primary schools, a health centre, bus services and upgraded public rights of way to connect the villages with Saltash, plus significant new employment land. The large-scale growth is said to strengthen infrastructure delivery. But the summary is plain that it would mean major development in the National Landscape, with adverse effects.

How to have your say

The council is asking people to look through the scenarios and think about three questions. What makes you feel positive? What makes you feel negative? And what is most important to you?

The scenarios and the survey are online at the Saltash Plan website. Paper surveys can be picked up at the Library Hub, at Saltash Guildhall or at one of the drop-in sessions, and returned to the Guildhall, the library or a drop-off point.

Drop-in sessions

According to the council’s drop-in session flyer, the remaining sessions are:

• Saltash Library Hub, Plougastel Drive: weekdays until Friday 30 October, 10am to 12 noon (the Library Hub is closed on Wednesdays)
• Co-op Saltash, 51-59 Fore Street: Friday 16, Friday 23 and Friday 30 October, 2pm to 4pm
• Ashtorre Rock, Waterside, Old Ferry Road: Tuesday 20 and Tuesday 27 October, 1.30pm to 3.30pm

There is also a Meet Your Councillor session outside Saltash Heritage on Fore Street this Saturday (17 October), from 10am to 12 noon.

Questions can go to Saltash Town Council at [email protected] or on 01752 844846.