By Graham Smith

The land deal necessary for Cornwall Council to proceed with its plan to build Truro New Town could be signed today (Tuesday.)

Cornwall Reports understands that the national construction company Barratt Homes agreed its position last week and that all that is needed now is for council officials to append their signatures.

The deal is several months later than first anticipated and comes as County Hall is embarking on a major public engagement exercise.  The council’s “masterplan” has always been dependant on securing the land on which Barratts have pre-emptive development rights.

The details of the Barratts’ decision are not yet clear but it is known that the company was not happy with the council’s ambition to build a “garden village” to standards significantly higher than might be expected from a large-scale private developer.

The past 10 days have seen frantic activity as officials and senior councillors have sought to cajole Barratts and the developers Inox to finally agree to County Hall’s proposals.  At one stage it looked as if the entire Truro New Town project was under threat, as council leader Julian German said he might just “walk away” unless the land deal was sewn up quickly.