Approved home plan goes to council again
Plans to build new homes in Calstock are set to go before councillors next week despite having been given planning approval in the summer.
Construction Partners was granted planning permission in July to build the 33 new homes on the site of the former Bridge View Nurseries.
Under the plans there would be two one-bedroom homes, four two-bedroom homes, 11 three-bedroom homes and 16 four-bedroom houses. A total of 15 affordable properties.
The plans had attracted 131 public comments with 64 objections and 58 in support.
Cornwall Council’s east subarea planning committee approved the plans subject to a Section 106 agreement about contributions to local infrastructure and amenities being drawn up with the applicants.
At the original committee meeting there had been concerns raised around whether the site was previously developed land (PDL).
Planning officers told the committee the application was considered to be a “rounding- off ” of the village and so the issue of PDL was not grounds to refuse permission.
But the application is set to go back before the committee on Monday after objectors continued to raise concerns about PDL and claimed councillors had been “misinformed”.
Objectors said the site was used for horticultural wholesale and not by visiting members of the public.
A report going to the committee states: “Officers have thereby given the applicant the opportunity to provide further evidence on the past use of the site. They have retained their stance that the site had a mixed use, including a florist on the site, that imported goods were brought into the site, including flowers and Christmas trees, and members of the public attended the site to purchase goods.”
It adds: “Notwithstanding the evidence submitted, officers are mindful of the conflict between the objectors and the applicant in respect of the former use of the site and, in the absence of a formal process to certify the matter, it is not possible to be able to categorically advise one way or the other.”
Despite this planning officers have recommended that the application is granted planning permission.
Local Democracy Reporter