Decision on Falmouth housing development at North Parade

Mr Roberts had applied to Cornwall Council for permission to demolish the existing property in North Parade and replace it with four new homes – two detached and two semi-detached.

The application went before the council’s central sub-area planning committee this morning (Monday), where planning officers had recommended that it should be approved.

However the application had attracted a large number of objections including from Falmouth Town Council and local Cornwall councillor Jayne Kirkham.

Local resident Helen Marsh told the committee that people living nearby were not anti-development  but said they strongly objected to the application as it was considered to be “out of character” and “is too large for this narrow plot”.

Composite photo showing the plans for new homes in North Parade, Falmouth, which were refused planning permission. The orange dots indicate the outline of previous plans which were withdrawn.

Falmouth town councillor John Spargo said that there was a lot of concern in the town about the proposed development.

He said: “This is over development and should be scaled back closer to that of the original footprint of the existing building.”

The town councillor said that the site was a gateway to North Parade and that it was “very important” that the design and impact of any new development was appropriate.

Susan Kimber, planning agent speaking on behalf of the applicant, addressed concerns raised by some objectors that the development would block views of the waterfront.

She said that the proposed design would improve the views to the waterfront which she said are currently blocked by the existing building.

And she added that there had been a number of similar modern developments along North Parade in the last 20 years which had all been approved.

Cllr Kirkham said that she agreed with the comments from the town council and other objectors about the proposed development.

She also highlighted that there were concerns about the highways in the area saying that it would be dangerous for cars to be driving in and out of the proposed development.

Composite photo showing the plans for new homes in North Parade, Falmouth, which were refused planning permission

The Cornwall councillor suggested that if the development was scaled back it would provide a safer and better access for vehicles to go into the site. She said: “The idea of anybody reversing in or out of that spot worries me.

Cllr Kirkham said that the area had only been added to her council ward since last May’s elections but said she had already had a resident’s meeting regarding concerns about traffic and parking in the area.

However the committee was told that there had been no objections to the application from highways officers.

Committee member Michael Bunney said that while he could see that the applicants and planning officers had worked hard to come up with plans which might be acceptable he was not convinced.

He said that “it just feels too much” and would be over development which is out of character and inappropriate for the area. He recommended that they should be refused.

John Fitter said that, while he felt that Cllr Bunney was right that the plans were out of character, he was concerned that as other developments had already been approved it was too late.

He said: “I am not sure that the horse hasn’t already bolted on that particular area as many applications have already been approved.”

When put to the vote the committee agreed to refuse planning permission with eight votes in favour and three against.