This Document Sets out the Key Issues and Highlights the Emerging Priorities That Were

Dear All

This document sets out the key issues and highlights the emerging priorities that were raised at the stakeholder workshop in the development of the Masterplan for Bodmin that was held on 25th June 2009.

The event was very successful and the feedback from those who attended was that they valued being directly involved in discussing all the issues and trying themselves to decide where future growth should be directed.

We are very keen that everyone who wants to be involved has the opportunity to get their views across so if you were unable to attend the session and want to add points then let us know.

Work has continued since the workshop and the team have been busy working up options so that when we hold the next workshop the group will be able to see how their ideas have been incorporated and again will have the opportunity to directly influence the plans.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you again for your continued support and involvement in the process and we will contact again soon once the date and venue for the next event has been set.

Regards Matt Morris – GVA Grimley Hans Van Bommel – NEW Masterplanning Derek Grant – WSP Group Paul Webber – Cornwall Council Bodmin Masterplan Visioning Workshops – Attendance & Comments

Attendance:

Steve Cranmer – Affordable Housing Enabling Officer Fiona James – representing Landowners Shaun Pritchard – Environment Agency James Purkiss- Faber Maunsell representing Highway Authority David Skea – Landowner Sarah Cawrse – Conservation Officer, Cornwall Council Neal Jillings – Savills Robert Cock – Devon & Cornwall HA Paul Banks – Senior Planning Officer, Cornwall Council Norman Treseder – Emma Rojano – Sustainable Access Officer, Cornwall Council John Ebsary- Forestry Commission Will Coleman Tara Dickenson – GoSW Andrew Williams – Lanhydrock Estate Louise Coltman – Stoneham Housing Corporation Sian Flynn – Prospective Conservative Candidate Hilary Gooch – Cornwall Council David Zienkiewicz – representing Landowners June Crossland – Cornwall AONB Andrew Jeffrey – Webbers Property Services Ken Jones – Community 1st Group Chris Wilkes – Bodmin Chamber of Commerce Mark Allsop - Landowner David Attwell – Coast & Countryside Services Manager, Cornwall Council Martin Eddy – Community Network Manager, Cornwall Council David Lobban – Penrilla Consultants Group 1

 Accessibility to the A30 is a key strength for Bodmin  Need to find ways to build up the tourism potential of the town  Find opportunities to develop a reputation / status in a particular area, such as food & produce  Historic assets such as Castle Canyke are currently underutilised and need improved access  Expand existing schools to strengthen their offer is a priority  Expand leisure facilities will be essential  Reinforce existing and expanded communities with local centres  Protection of key views to and from Beacon is critical – more to made as an attraction for the town

Group 2

 Extent of growth should not just be accepted – what is right for Bodmin is the key issue to be determined  Must respect the historic growth pattern of the town (spine and rib)  Respect the historic field patterns (Burgage plots)  A vision must be driven by the qualities of the place not just accommodating development  Growth options if needed, should be considered west / east of the town centre rather north and south to respect the historic structure of the town  New road / improved access to the town is essential to attract the quality of jobs needed in Bodmin  Growth must help to address the accessibility / location difficulties of the Beacon Technology Park  Potential for the CUC to occupy space at Beacon Technology Park  Opportunity to develop an education hub in Bodmin with College and new facilities elsewhere  Important to develop the evening economy in the town centre and retain expenditure  Opportunity to create new landscape feature to the north to respond to the Beacon to the south

Group 3

 A greater focus on the historic qualities of Bodmin town centre is needed  More leisure uses are need within the town rather than on the edge, which are currently difficult to access  Road network must be enhanced to improve connections to and from the town centre and employment areas  Bodmin must act as the centre for north Cornwall – serving the needs of local people  Access to open space must be improved  More residential uses needed with the town  Growth should be incremental and not reliant on the deliver of infrastructure  Links to Bodmin Parkway station must be improved Group 4

 More to made of the historic qualities of the town  Decision on growth must be directed by a comprehensive assessment of the landscape  Improvement must be made to the gateways to Bodmin – more welcoming and the town more accessible  More should be made of potential attractions such as Castle Canyke  Opportunity to deliver high quality buildings in strategic locations – make a statement for the town  South / east direction for growth to reinforce the town centre  Improved linkage to the surrounding countryside will be essential  Improving the quality of industrial estates, such as Callywith Gate to improve the range of jobs on offer  East expansion of the town appears to be most natural and protect the town character, but not certain it will provide sufficient capacity  Beacon is a key asset for town and its setting must be viewed as sacrosanct  Delivery of growth must be mixed (housing and employment) Summary

In summary, key messages from the session highlight that the vision and masterplan for Bodmin must:

 Be comprehensive and consider the long term, avoiding a piecemeal process that often fails to deliver fully the potential benefits of growth.  Focus on protecting and enhancing the assets of the town, directing a ‘remodelling’ approach rather than wholesale change.  Ensure a critical mass is established to enable the potential benefits of growth to be delivered. The capacity of growth options will be an important consideration.  Focus on delivering quality; in jobs, homes, services and facilities that is high and long lasting, balancing the immediate pressures for action now.

Emerging priorities

Growth of new jobs and raising the quality of jobs

 To provide new, high quality employment space and improve the range of jobs in the town, helping to retain and strengthen the local workforce (continue to build on the success and strengths of existing employment destinations such as Callywith Gate and connections to the A30 and finding suitable locations to attract new employers, providing modern office space – a focus on the town centre)  Ensuring the growth of new jobs is integrated with delivery of new homes, helping reduce the need to travel to create a sustainable location

Improving access needed to help deliver the quality

 Improving the sense of arrival and accessibility to the town at key gateways (A30 junctions, Parkway Station, Camel Trail, town centre junctions)  Enhancing public transport routes and connections (to and from Parkways Station, improving access to the Beacon Technology Park)  Improving access and connections between community areas, the town centre, employment areas and education centres such as Bodmin College  New infrastructure, such as link roads required to improve access to growth areas, employment areas and education centres must be integrated as part of the town, not serving to bypass it  Improving access for communities to the surrounding countryside

Quality of environment needed to attract investment and sustain communities

 Protecting the landscape qualities (views of the Beacon, Area of Great Landscape Value, historic burgage plots)  Exploring the visitor potential from historic assets such as Castle Canyke  Creating a safer and more attractive central environment for pedestrians, supporting opportunities for new retail, leisure and development Quality of training and education

 Creating opportunities for local people to develop skills and improve the quality of the workforce, ensuring new jobs are available for local people (potential to reinforce existing education facilities through expansion - Bodmin College, and creating opportunities for new services and facilities, exploring potential from CUC)

Quality of the town centre

 Prioritise the regeneration of Bodmin town centre to provide new retail floor space, leisure uses such as a cinema, new office floor space and new homes  Protect and enhance the historic character of the town centre – listed buildings, historic street pattern, key views  Explore ways to address movement and access constraints and provide a better balance between cars and people (improving sense of arrival, access and availability of car parking, improving air quality, the congestion on Dennison Road)  Improving the offer of Bodmin town centre as an evening destination for leisure, entertainment, food and drink.