300 NEW houses might be built in Truro after proposals were submitted to Cornwall Council for two large developments within half a mile of each other.

The Tregothnan Estate has requested a planning performance agreement for up to 200 properties on two neighbouring sites at Tolgarrick – between Highertown and the Newham Trail. An environmental impact assessment has also been requested before an outline application is submitted.

Two sites, currently used for grazing land, have been earmarked for development – 120 homes at Treyew Farm, Highertown, and up to 80 on land west of Green Lane. A minimum of 35 per cent of the 200 dwellings would be affordable homes.

The proposals also include “extensive areas of greenspace” including informal recreational space, on-site play areas, allotments and sustainable drainage systems. There would also be two accesses off the A390 and one off Penwethers Lane.

A planning statement says: “The Tolgarrick site falls outside but immediately adjacent to the southern edge of the Truro settlement boundary and would form a logical infill development rounding off of the city along the A390. The site sits on a slope that rises up from the Newham Trail up to the ridgeline along the A390.

“Tolgarrick is in a sustainable location with respect to public transport, pedestrian routes and cycle paths and is very well connected to employment, shops and facilities in Truro including schools, supermarkets, GP surgery, pharmacies, hospital, banks, pubs, restaurants, convenience and comparison retail.

“Whilst primary schools can be accessed within the walk catchment, the new secondary school academies fall outside, but the site has access to the A390 bus corridor which serves Richard Lander School and Truro & Penwith College at Gloweth.”

The report added: “In terms of wider potential impacts upon visual amenity and landscape character, the site offers the opportunity to retain the field boundary hedgerows and trees into any future layout, along with further complementary enhancements, thus retaining the characteristic vegetation pattern prevalent across the site and local area.

“Truro has already spread beyond the ‘bowl’ along the A390 and it is well demonstrated by the new Lidl building, New County Hall and built development west of Penwethers Lane that development can be located here and designed in a sensitive manner to reduce visual prominence – see photo below showing a long distance view of these existing developments in the landscape.”

There are also plans for over 100 new homes in the area behind Old County Hall. Cornwall Council’s development company Treveth has submitted two planning applications for the site off Treyew Road. The site, with both applications combined, would look to deliver 116 homes for local people.

A full application for 53 homes is intended to be the first phase of the development, with an outline application covering phases two to five and the further 63 properties. The fifth phase covers the Truro Fire Station land, which is part of the site, should the fire station ever choose to relocate. Phases one to four are intended to be delivered around the fire station as it remains in its current position.