PLANS to build a new business park near Newquay have been approved despite concerns the development would have an adverse impact on the rural area.

Cornwall Council has given the go ahead for the construction of two industrial units, 11 rural workshops and three offices on land south west of Callestick Vean Bungalow in Penhallow.

The planning officer concluded the significant benefits from the employment space at a time when there is an expansion of residential areas at north coast settlements and in Truro would outweigh the adverse impact on the rural character of the location.

Perranzabuloe Parish Council had no objection to the scheme.

The planning statement said: “The scale of the proposed buildings reflect the size of typical commercial and industrial buildings.

“The site gives an opportunity to develop a business park with mixed uses close to the A30 with good transport links to the wide road network.

“The proposed development facilitates the expansion of local businesses and has benefits for the local economy and community, providing a range of high quality, marketable units for employment.

“The proposal has taken into consideration the surrounding area including the setting of the scheduled ancient monument. In conclusion, it is clear that the proposal is an appropriate and acceptable form of development for the site.”

The planning officer concluded: “There would be a short-term economic benefit from construction and a significant long term economic benefit from employment, business rates and for businesses providing support services to the new businesses at the site.

“There would be some adverse impact on the rural character of the location.

“However, the harm is mitigated by the existing infrastructure which is a dominant feature of the location. The landscape is thus not particularly sensitive close to the site and subject to appropriate external materials and landscaping would have a moderate visual impact on the A30 corridor where commercial development is not an unusual feature.

“The short and long-term benefits of the employment space provision at a time when Truro and north coast settlements are seeing expansion of residential areas are considered, on balance, to outweigh the policy conflict with location and visual impact and do not demonstrate any substantial adverse impacts that would justify a recommendation other than conditional approval.

“There would be significant benefits from the new businesses in providing year-round employment and supporting the local economy.”

The proposal is adjacent to the scheduled monument known as Bowl barrow but the planning officer concluded there would be a heritage benefit from the scheme.

The planning officer said: “There would be some less than substantial adverse impact on the setting of the scheduled bowl barrow which would be balanced through the public benefit of the barrow being more publicly accessible, both directly by access into the area of the barrow and through interpretation boards.

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“The integrity of the barrow would also be preserved. There would also be an opportunity to investigate the archaeological potential of the site to add to the archaeological knowledge gained form the A30 upgrade. There would be a minor heritage benefit from the proposal which weighs in favour of the development and this approach is supported by Historic England.”