'Grand Designs' style house in Cornwall planning decision at Blisland

Paul Sessions had applied for permission to build the home on land near Merrymeeting Farm, Tresarrett, Blisland, and the application went before Cornwall Council’s east sub-area planning committee this morning.

Planning officers had recommended that the plans be refused saying that it would have a negative impact on an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) and would be “an unacceptable form of development within the open countryside”.

Under the plans the home would be made up of a series of connected geometric buildings based around the different shapes found in Cornish hedges.

Several comments at the planning committee mentioned that the single storey home looked like the type of property seen in the popular Channel 4 TV show Grand Designs.

The application was submitted on the basis that it complies with national planning policy that allows for development in the countryside if it is of exceptional quality.

Artist\'s impressions of a proposed house for which planning permission has been applied for in Blisland

As part of the application process the plans had been submitted to the South West Design Review Panel, which agreed that the design was of such high architectural value.

However, planning officer Aimee Williams, explaining why the plans should be refused, said: “This application site is a green field within the countryside, it would introduce a new home and any development would be to the detriment to the distinctive natural beauty and character of the site.”

Blisland Parish Council had unanimously supported the application when it considered it at a meeting and council chair Stephanie Meads said: “It is for a Grand Design-style house in the countryside. It can be allowed if they are truly outstanding or innovative and of the highest standards of architecture.”

She added: “It is of outstanding architectural design and the council believes it would add to the quality of dwellings in the parish.”

Mr Sessions addressed the committee and explained that the home would be carbon negative and generate more energy than it requires.

He said that it had “always been a desire of my wife and I to build our own house” and said that they had selected the location as where they would ideally like to live.

Artist\'s impressions of a proposed house for which planning permission has been applied for in Blisland

Local Cornwall councillor Jennifer Cruse had objected to the plans, in a statement read to the committee she said: “I am concerned that this Grand Design type of development could open a Pandora’s Box of similar kinds of development in Cornwall.”

Committee member Dominic Fairman said that he was unsure about the plans but said: “Do we support outstanding new designs and if we do, is this the right location for them? It is a really difficult one.”

Barry Jordan said that he felt it was the wrong location for such a modern design and said it would be better suited in a town.

John Fitter agreed saying that he thought it was a “carbuncle in the countryside, it would be wonderful in a town environment”.

He said he was concerned about the impact on the AGLV as well as the effect on the dark skies area due to possible light pollution. He said had no hesitation in supporting the recommendation for refusal.

Artist\'s impressions of a proposed house for which planning permission has been applied for in Blisland

Adrian Parsons said: “It is an innovative design, somebody is trying to do something a little bit different. But I am really uncomfortable with the location.”

He said that while the design review panel had commended the design he wondered if they had also considered the location. Planning officers explained that the location would have been part of the information they based their decision on.

Phil Seeva said that he felt that the home would be better suited at the proposed location than in an urban environment.

Cllr Fitter’s proposal to refuse planning permission in line with the officer’s recommendation was agreed with eight votes in favour and three against.