PLANS to build a luxury housing development in a coastal village dubbed Hollywood-on-Sea have been refused due to concerns about the impact the scheme will have on the environment.

Cornwall Council has rejected a planning application for permission in principle for the construction of up to six dwellings on land east of Little Linhay at Mawgan Porth.

Laurence Associates, on behalf of applicant Garrett Tippett, argued in the planning application that the housing on the site would not give rise to any harm. The planning consultant also argued the provision of new housing should be given substantial weight as Cornwall Council is “significantly” falling behind its targeted housing delivery.

Cornwall Council’s chief planning officer Louise Wood stated due to the sensitivity of the location the housing development would result in substantial harm through urbanisation to the landscape character, which is a designated area of great landscape value.

She noted the proposal would deliver social benefits through the delivery of up to six houses in the context of a housing crisis but given the number of units proposed, the benefits would be moderate

The planning officer concluded that on balance the benefits of approving the proposal are substantially outweighed by the identified environmental harm.

Laurence Associates in the planning application said: “The proposed development is for four to six dwellings. It is considered that this is a suitable range considering the size of the site and its close relationship to other built development.

“The principle of the provision of housing on this site is considered to be acceptable and does not give rise to any harm that would be so substantial and demonstrable as to outweigh the benefit of new housing.

“A final scheme at the technical details stage, would carefully consider the scale and design of the development to ensure that it is in keeping with the character of the local area. It would provide appropriate garden and outdoor space and parking provision on the site.

“The provision of additional housing on a site which has been confirmed in an earlier pre-application as previously developed land, in a sustainable location, within an established settlement and with a clear functional relationship to existing built form, at this critical time of a local and a national housing crisis gives additional strong weight to the proposal. The development should therefore be approved.”

Cornwall Council’s chief planning officer Louise Wood stated in the refusal notice: “The proposal would deliver social benefits through the delivery of up to six houses in the context of a housing crisis, and associated economic benefits during construction and ongoing local spend.

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“Conversely, in respect to the environmental objective of sustainable development, the proposal does not accord with the spatial strategy of the development plan resulting in the delivery of housing that fails to promote sustainable patterns of movement and would through its conspicuous siting and the sensitivity of the location result in substantial harm through urbanisation to the landscape character.”