The Leader of Cornwall Council has objected to plans to build two affordable homes close to her home. Linda Taylor has objected to a planning application to build the homes in Leedstown.

The outline planning application is seeking permission to build two affordable homes and two open market properties on land off Carsize Lane, Leedstown. The site is classed as an exception site and so has to be affordable housing led.

Applicant Mr G Davies states in planning documents that the application would “guarantee” that half the homes to be built on the site would be affordable. A previous application for the site had been refused as it would only provide open market homes.

Crowan Parish Council has objected to the application saying that it would result in “urbanisation of the countryside”. It said that the affordable housing would not meet local need and that it should only be considered as a rural exception site if all the homes were affordable.

Cllr Taylor, whose home address is listed as Carsize Lane, has objected to the application on the grounds that the lane is unsuitable for further development.

In her objection, which is co-signed by Steven Taylor, she states: “I note that the resubmission includes for the provision for two affordable houses. The type of housing is relevant due to the exception criteria , but the real issue with the proposed site is that it is not a suitable location for a planned new development due to the quality of the lane.

I have travelled up and down the lane daily for over 20 years and the traffic has increased considerably over the last ten years with the building of 20 plus houses at Walters Close, the renting of fields to crop producers , the opening of stables and renovation of derelict barns.

“The negative impact brought by the increased traffic to existing users of the lane drivers pedestrian and residents whose drives are used to turn around in, plus the destruction of hedgerows, trees and fauna , the displacement of wild animals by the associated works would far out way the benefits of two affordable houses on a green field site.”

Noting that the application is “basically the same” as a previous application but with two affordable homes included she adds: “It would be foolish to approve any new housing development in Carsize Lane without a major upgrade to the lane, which would have to include widening and a footpath from the village hall down to Leedstown School to separate pedestrian from traffic.

“Residents and user safety should be the priority in the lane, not trying to fit in an exception site in an unsuitable location, none of the other circumstances have changed and I strongly object to the proposed development due to the reasons above.”