Application to build home in garden of farm near Stithians

An application to build a home within the garden of a farm near Stithians was recommended for conditional approval by Cornwall Council’s planning department but the parish council and neighbours argued it was out of character with the area.

Mr M Pickersgill was seeking 'technical details consent', following previously agreed 'permission in principle' to build the house at Pembroath Farm at Trembroath.

It was brought before Cornwall Council’s west area planning committee on Tuesday by Cllr John Thomas, due to concerns about the design of the property and the opening up of the hedgerow to form a new access.

Case officer Adam Carlyon said the loss of a Cornish hedgerow to provide the access would be “unfortunate”. However, he added there would be a condition to compensate for that elsewhere on the site, which could include Cornish hedging, and access was considered safe. The design of the house was considered to be appropriate for the character of the area and a detailed drainage scheme was also deemed suitable.

Suzanne Winspear, representing concerned residents, asked committee members: “I hope you’ve visited our hamlet and seen for yourselves why we object so strongly to this proposed build? A large, modern two-storey house with a carport would be unsightly and completely out of keeping with surrounding cottages and the traditional rural aspect of the hamlet.

“The loss of a Cornish hedgerow is not just ‘unfortunate’ it’s criminal, providing unnecessary access to an undesirable building with no reason to destroy at least four metres of ancient Cornish hedge and harm the habitat.

Where a new house would be built in the Cornish hamlet of Trembroath (Pic: Cornwall Council)

"The council would be sanctioning a dangerous access just beyond a blind bend. It would also mean the loss of much-needed parking on the lane.”

She said contrary to the planning officer’s report, the application site was within a flood risk area, adding: “In 2016 we suffered severe flooding causing £25,000 worth of damage to our home and every year the hamlet is regularly under several inches of water.” Mrs Winspear believed any additional development would add to the flood risk.

Cllr Phil Blease, vice-chairman of Stithians Parish Council, told councillors: “We support new builds in the right location. We do not support this application. Prior to any application a large number of established trees and shrubs were removed from the boundary wall.

“This, and previous applications, have at best been disingenuous – not acknowledging that the boundary wall is right next to a watercourse and a section of road that regularly floods. A flood here in 2016 did tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the neighbouring property.

"Despite remedial work and regular maintenance of that watercourse, it still floods and the frequency is increasing. Common sense tells you you should not build next to a known flood risk area.”

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Describing the plan as “flawed and erroneous”, Cllr Blease added: “We believe you should listen to the local community who know the area and the detrimental effect this development will have on it.”

In response, Mr Carlyon reiterated that a scheme of onsite drainage was suitable. He said the trees that were taken down were immature specimens, which could be removed without permission.

Cllr Loveday Jenkin said something would be built on the site as ‘permission in principle’ had already been granted: “The question is, is this the most appropriate thing to be built there?” She pointed out the range of other house builds in the hamlet and wondered if refusal would be challenged.

The application was approved by eight votes for and two abstentions, with additional conditions including the retention of existing Cornish hedges and the construction of new Cornish hedges on the western boundary, and all parking and turning areas should be finished with a permeable surface.