Plans to build 40 new homes on a greenfield site in Falmouth have been recommended for approval despite concerns that the development will destroy a green buffer at the edge of the town.

Persimmon Homes is looking to build the homes on land off Bickland Hill in Falmouth.

The application is set to go before Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee next week and planning officers have recommended that the plans be approved, subject to a legal agreement being reached regarding the number of affordable homes to be provided.

Under the proposals it is stated that 14 of the new homes would be affordable.

In their report to the committee, officers state that the site is “not allocated for development and would result in the loss of a greenfield site”. They state that while it would go against the local Neighbourhood Development Plan the development does comply with the Cornwall Local Plan as it is considered to be “rounding off,” as the site has other developments around it.

The application has attracted objections from Falmouth Town Council and Budock Parish Council, which are both concerned that the development would result in a loss of a “green buffer” zone between Falmouth and Budock.

The parish council said in its submission: “This site does not represent ‘rounding off’ or ‘infill’ as the Eve Parc development has a clearly defined boundary, this being a substantial Cornish Hedge where these fields abut to Eve Parc. These proposed houses would then constitute building in the countryside which is not in accordance with the NPPF.

“There is no need for further affordable housing in Budock Parish as this will be amply provided by allocation on the Pen Bethan estate. We therefore repeat that Budock Parish Council strongly object to this application.”

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Members of the public have also objected, including Michael Moore who wrote: “I object to this planning application. I feel that the green buffer between Falmouth and Budock Water has already been eroded with the development opposite Falmouth Town Football Club and is not part of the designated Falmouth development area.

"I fail to see the benefits that this development would bring to the community with lack of school places and other amenities.”

And Lawrence Godfrey said: “If this development goes ahead it would mean that democracy at the local level is being ridden over roughshod, much like the green fields which are being lined up to be destroyed.

"The applicant has absolutely no interest in enriching or improving Budock, but only in making vast sums of money, which is removed from the local economy whilst at the same time destroying pristine natural environments.

"Please do the morally right thing and reject this application and perhaps go a step further and issue some sort of protection so that our children can live in a green and pleasant land?”

The planning application had been expected to be discussed and decided at a meeting of the west sub-area planning committee on Monday. However, this could be subject to change due to that date now being a bank holiday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.