Eco-town promoter and internationally experienced town developer and operator Orascom Development, together with its joint venture partners, Imerys Minerals and the Eden Project, today launched a three-day exhibition and public consultation to encourage the entire community to become involved in helping shape the plans.
A new name was also unveiled for the joint venture company which will deliver the project - Eco-Bos - taking its identity from Eco, representing the commitment to sustainability throughout the project, and Bos, from the Celtic or Cornish word for home.
The Eco-Bos proposals will create one of the most sustainable new communities in Europe, by re-developing six former china clay sites owned by Imerys to provide more than 5,000 homes (of which up to 40 per cent will be affordable), up to 5,000 new jobs, a sustainable transport infrastructure, utilize renewable energies and provide leisure facilities and green space. When complete, it will create an amazing place to live, work and visit as well as bringing significant improvements to facilities and quality of life for existing neighbouring communities.
Samih Sawiris, Chairman and Chief Executive of Orascom Development Holding, who officially opened the exhibition, said: “What we are unveiling today is a long term vision to deliver something truly special here in this beautiful corner of the country. Working closely with the local community and our partners, and using our expertise and experience in long term, sustainable town development and management, we want to create something that stands out as a vibrant and sustainable place to live, work and visit.
“Imerys has the land and the Eden Project can help us with their knowledge and experience in sustainability and environmental development. Together, as Eco-Bos, I’m convinced we have the perfect team.
“However, it is not just about what we think needs to be done. My duty is to make sure that what we are planning is in line with what local people want to see happening, so that they support it and the benefits it will bring to both new and existing residents. For that reason, it is vitally important that the community is involved in the process and I hope as many people as possible will come to the exhibition and help us shape a better and more sustainable future for Mid-Cornwall.”
The proposals on display show the latest overall plans for the Eco-town with more detailed plans for the Pilot and Phase One schemes at West Carclaze/Baal and Par. The plans show how the existing industrial landscape would be transformed to create a beautiful new environment, including:
• New homes, businesses, leisure facilities and enhanced wildlife habitats set around the seven lakes within the Baal/West Carclaze site
• Creating a vibrant 21st century harbour at Par Docks, with new homes, employment space, marina, hotels and restaurants
The plans also identifies solutions which can be taken forward by Cornwall Council, using land owned by Eco-Bos, and which will solve longstanding transport issues as well as providing the sustainable transport infrastructure needed to unlock the full potential of mid-Cornwall for new and existing residents and businesses.
Feedback from visitors to the exhibition will be used in the production of a high level strategy document putting the whole scheme in to context as well as the Pilot/Phase One planning applications which will be submitted for approval to Cornwall Council later this year.
The exhibition was opened by Samih Sawiris at 6pm on Thursday March 25 and is taking place in a specially-converted vacant shop space in Aylmer Square, within the recently completed White River Place development. It will remain open to the public to visit during Friday and Saturday (March 26-27).
It will also be visiting several of the neighbouring villages in Clay Country in the next few weeks, details of which will follow shortly.
The Eco-Bos project is one of only four schemes nationally to be awarded ‘Eco-town’ status by the Government.
It is focused on six former industrial china clay mining and processing sites owned by Imerys at West Carclaze and Baal, Par Docks, Goonbarrow,, Blackpool and Nanpean and Drinnick.
The exhibition is taking place in Aylmer Square, White River Place (opposite Argos) between 6pm and 8pm on Thursday March 25, when it will be officially opened by Samih Sawiris. It will also be open to the public on Friday March 26 (10.30 until 6pm) and Saturday March 27 (10.30 until 4pm).
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