An appeal has been lodged over the refusal of controversial plans to build 40 homes in two fields off Bickland Hill near Budock.

The new homes were planned for two fields that directly abut a green buffer zone between Budock parish (Budock Water) and Falmouth but were turned down almost unanimously by Cornwall Council in March despite being recommended for approval by a planning officer.

Now Blue Fox Planning, the agent for developer Persimmon Homes, has put in an appeal against that decision, despite concerns that this development encroaches onto the green buffer between Budock and Falmouth.

Under the proposal 14 out the 40 new homes would have be affordable.

When the original application was turned down at a planning committee appeal, members of that committee said they would have been minded to approve the application if the percentage of affordable homes had been 100%.

However the percentage has not changed. 

In its original report to the committee, the officer stated that the site is “not allocated for development and would result in the loss of a greenfield site”.

They stated that while it would go against the local Neighbourhood Development Plan (Budock parish) 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.

That was disputed by Budock parish who said firstly that the NDP was part of the Coenwall local plan having been ratified by a referendum of parishioners and they considred the development to be an encroachment, not infill or rounding off.

In particular the parish council was concerned that the development would result in the loss of greenfield between Falmouth and Budock.

Falmouth has been ceded a lot of land that was in Budock Parish and the parish has been left with the two fields. 

Budock parish councillor Phil Burnett said the developer was continue to insist these fields are effectively part of Falmouth but they are not. 

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"They continue to insist these fields are part of Falmouth and they are clearly not," he said. "They are legally, by planning statute, part of Budock Parish. Therefore the power of the Budock Neighbourhood parish plan has to carry proper weight.

"The other thing I would say is that it was a very fair and reasoned discussion at Cornwall Council in my opinion and all sides of the case were put, but their final paragraph states that they will be appealing for costs against Cornwall Council and I find that disheartening."

Cllr David Saunby, whose ward inclusdes Budock told the Packet: "I am extremely disappointed that Persimmon have gone to the Government Inspector to try and over turn Cornwall Council's decision to refuse the application to build 40 homes in the two fields south of Eve Parc, which would break down the green buffer that separate's the Parish of Budock and the town of Falmouth which has existed since 1661, when an act of Parliament was passed to seperate the town of Falmouth created by Sir Peter Killigrew of Arwenack Manor from the Parish of Budock."

Anyone who wants to make further comments, or modify/withdraw their previous representation, can do so online using the Planning Inspectorate website at: https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk. 

All the original comments and documents will be forwarded to the inspector.