A Cornwall Council planning committee has gone against the advice of officers and allowed a disabled woman to build a house next to her father’s property to allow her to gain support and care from her family.

The council’s planning department recommended refusal on the grounds it would harm the countryside location.

Jadie Pengelly, who the committee was told suffers from Crohn’s disease, applied for permission for a self-build home on land adjacent to her family’s home at United Road, St Day, between Carharrack and United Downs industrial estate.

A planning officer’s report stated: “The proposal would provide a single dwelling which would contribute to the Government’s aim of significantly boosting the supply of homes, including on small/medium and windfall sites. However, the contribution of the scheme would only make a very modest contribution to housing supply. In this instance, the associated social, economic and environmental benefits would be very limited.”

Local member Cllr John Thomas (Lanner, Stithians & Gwennap, Independent) disagreed and called the application to committee believing the location and landscape impacts of the development were acceptable, as did Gwennap Parish Council.

Dan Rogers, on behalf of the applicant, said the house would allow his client to live closer to her family for vital support for health issues on land within her father’s ownership. He said the ability to live close to her family would allow Ms Pengelly to “maintain autonomy and quality of life”.

He asked the committee to consider what harm would actually be caused if the self-built home was approved on previously developed land.

Cllr Thomas told the committee that Ms Pengelly suffers from Crohn’s disease. He refuted the planning department’s claim that the development would be in the open countryside and argued there were substantial dwellings nearby, including a care home, and a number of businesses.

He said: “This person, despite her disability, has not sat back with a ‘woe is me’ attitude but has worked hard and gained a degree in business and has to complete the last stage from home because of her illness.”

Cllr Mike Thomas (Helston North, Independent) said there were good reasons to suggest that although policy states it shouldn’t go ahead there wouldn’t be damage caused if the house was allowed.

Cllr James Ball (Camborne Roskear & Tuckingmill, Independent) said he visited the site before the meeting and believed it wouldn’t be development in the open countryside but was infill between other properties. “It may only be a small impact on the Government’s housing contribution but there would be social and economic benefits,” he said, adding it was the best use of the land.

He proposed approval on the grounds that it wouldn’t be development on agricultural land, would be infill with socio-economic benefits and would be in keeping with surrounding development. Eight councillors voted in favour, with none against and three abstentions.