21.05.03
Planning experts to debate Cornwall's future

Planning, architectural and building experts gather in Falmouth today (Wednesday, 21 May 2003) for the second 'Planning for Prosperity' conference, which takes place at the new National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

The conference has been organised by the Cornwall Business Partnership, the umbrella body for all the major business representative organisations in Cornwall, in partnership with the Government Office for the South West, Cornwall County Council, the South West of England Regional Development Agency and the Objective One Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Objective One Partnership is also sponsoring the conference. The aim is to debate the fundamental role that planning can play to regenerate Cornwall's economy through strategic developments to create jobs and prosperity.

Thelma Sorensen, Chairman of the Cornwall Business Partnership, organised the first 'Planning for Prosperity' conference at Tolvaddon Energy Park in July 2002. She said: "That earlier conference exceeded our expectations in that it generated a very positive and ongoing debate around planning issues in Cornwall.

"Several actions were identified at the event. Significant among these was a request for a review of the Cornwall Planning Charter. Cornwall County Council have accepted that it is now appropriate for the scope of this document to be widened beyond the ambit of Objective One and a revision has been set in place.

"A draft of the revised charter will be available at the second 'Planning for Prosperity' conference and we are delighted that our delegates will have the opportunity to be actively involved in the consultation process. This outcome fully demonstrates the real working partnership being developed between the private and public sectors across Cornwall.

"We believe that planning will play a fundamental part in ensuring that the benefits of the Objective One Programme are fully realised. We hope to report on positive outcomes arising from the issues discussed at the first 'Planning for Prosperity' conference, in addition to debating further planning related matters."

The second 'Planning for Prosperity' conference will be chaired by Chris Murray, the Director of Learning and Development at the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. The panel of ten speakers include Richard Bayly, Director of the Government Office for the South West (Devon and Cornwall); Mark Jones, Head of Spatial Planning for Cornwall County Council; Nigel Smith, Acting Chief Executive of the Camborne, Pool, Redruth Urban Regeneration Company, and representatives from a wide range of planning disciplines and interests.

The all-day conference starts at 9.30am and will end at 4pm with a series of key questions that private sector representatives will pose to delegates from the public sector in order to improve communication during the planning process in Cornwall.

Editor's notes:

Cornwall Business Partnership is the umbrella body for all the major business representative organisations in Cornwall. Its role is to act as the single business voice for Cornwall. It is recognised by such bodies as the Government Office for the South West and the South West Regional Development Agency.

For further information, please contact:

Thelma Sorensen
Chairman
Cornwall Business Partnership
Great Trevollard
Trematon
Saltash
Cornwall
PL12 4RX
Tel: 01752 843480
Email: thelma.sorensen@btopenworld.com

John Baker
John Baker Communications
PO Box 5
Saltash
Cornwall
PL12 4YW
Tel: 01752 849839
Mobile: 07710 147395
Email: johnbakercoms@btopenworld.com

Jason Clark
Communications Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
jason@dclark.co.uk

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