A Cornwall planning committee will consider a proposal for a development of five bungalows, which opponents say will impact the countryside setting of a village and would lead to an overdevelopment of the area, writes Local Democracy Reporter Lee Trewhela.
Mr M Gordon has applied to build five detached three-bedroom dormer bungalows with integral garages and parking spaces on land adjacent to Rosemerryn at St Ruan, a hamlet near Ruan Minor on the Lizard Peninsula.
Planning permission was previously refused for four dwellings on the site on the basis that the development would cause harm to the character of the area which is within what was formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which has now been renamed a National Landscape.
The decision was later reversed on appeal and the site now has permission for four detached dwellings. Work has already started to install the access.
The matter has been called before next Monday’s meeting of Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee by the area’s councillor Anthony Soady owing to the concerns of the parish council, which he shares.
Cllr Soady believes the plan would further physically extend St Ruan into the open countryside, would increase the difference in character and scale of development to the hamlet and would be an overdevelopment of the site. He also believes it contravenes the appeal decision which expressly states only four properties are permitted on the site.
Grade Ruan Parish Council has similar concerns, adding that it would cause additional vehicle movements on a single track road and exacerbate parking issues which currently impact on traffic flow.
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National Landscapes Cornwall also objects on the grounds that it will have a harmful effect on the landscape and village setting.
Planning officer Martin Jose, who recommends approval, said: “Whilst the concerns of the local residents, parish council and electoral division member are understood, it is considered that the previous appeal decision on the site comprises a material consideration such that the principle of development on this site has been established.
“The proposed development would increase built form on the site, but this increase is considered, on balance, to be acceptable and not so harmful as to cause reason for refusal, despite some limited harm upon the landscape designation. The proposal would not give rise to any unacceptable impacts in respect of highway safety due to the increase of one additional dwelling.”
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