An appeal against Cornwall Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for a retail park on the outskirts of Camborne has been dismissed.
The application was submitted by Quora, a Newark- and Nottingham-based company that specialises in commercial and mixed-use property development.
BID Camborne has been , to be called Polstrong, on land north of Roseworthy Hill since 2017 and news of the final outcome has been greeted with jubilation by hundreds of businesses in the town.
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“This is a true example of people power,” said BID Camborne chair and delicatessen owner Sharron Lipsombe-Manley. “Quora made no effort to engage with BID or any of our member businesses and were frankly playing poker with local livelihoods.
“It’s never been more important to support our high street and I’m over the moon that this proposal is now completely dead.
“We’d be very happy if any of the businesses considering moving into the retail park wanted to take over one of Camborne’s vacant sites. Anything that contributes to consumer choice within our town centre will always be welcomed.”
The news comes as Camborne waits to hear from the Government about its own plan to revitalise the community through the Town Deal initiative.
“We have shortlisted nine projects in our application for £25million of government funding,” said BID Camborne manager and Camborne Town Deal chair Anna Pascoe. “They have all been carefully considered by our board, in consultation with the local community, and, if agreed, will make a huge difference.
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“Polstrong would have ripped the heart out of Camborne and I’m so delighted and relieved that Quora’s appeal has been turned down. This issue has been ongoing for four years and I’d like to thank everyone involved, including the former BID manager and directors, for their perseverance in getting this scheme rejected.”
Quora’s claim for costs was also refused. A decision on the Camborne Town Deal investment plan is expected in May.
The Polstrong development would have seen a Lidl supermarket, Home Bargains shop, petrol station and parking spaces for 160 cars built on the edge of the town, where a Premier Inn hotel stands nearby.
A planning application was rejected in August 2019 on the grounds that the out-of-town retail park would have a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Camborne town centre.
Cornwall Council also argued that the applicants failed to provide sufficient information in order to allow a full assessment of the net level of job creation and the scheme would encroach on the countryside and have an adverse visual impact. Quora then launched an appeal.