MAJOR plans to build a ‘mini town’ on the outskirts of St Columb Major have been approved despite opposition.

Cornwall Council has given the go ahead for outline planning permission including access for up to 138 dwellings, a community building, a Co-op retail convenience store and a battery storage facility on land south of St Columb Major Industrial Estate at Carnanton Road.

Residents opposed the scheme following concerns the local infrastructure such as the highways and sewage system would not be able to cope with the scheme. They also argued the doctors practice, pharmacy and school are already at the limits of capacity.

St Columb Major Town Council objected to the plans based on “strain of local infrastructure,” congestion of highways, dividing the town in two, building outside the original settlement and building on open space.

Development Land and Planning Department, on behalf of applicant Wessex Strategic Ltd, argued the revised pans offer a sustainable form of development will make a “meaningful” contribution towards affordable and open market housing.

The plans were also revised to address concerns were raised by the Spaceport at Newquay Airport, due to perceived safety risk in the event of a rocket launch failure given the site’s proximity to the flight path at Newquay Airport.

The number of dwellings were increased from 125 to 137 dwellings to incorporate a high percentage of affordable units whilst a proposal to build 27 commercial buildings on the site was removed from the plans.

Resident Lesley Brennan said: “The scale of this proposed development is staggering relative to the small town of St Columb already straining under the impact of almost doubling its population over the last five years.

“A duplicate mini town with its industrialised complex replacing unspoilt greenbelt is akin to a crime in itself.

“I reiterate what others have said, that 150 houses simply could not be absorbed by the current infrastructure and services of the town in relation to education, healthcare and sewage. The cost of adaptation would be enormous.”

In the planning statement, the Development Land and Planning Department said: “The proposed changes are presented in order to directly address concerns raised by the Spaceport, and have been heavily influenced by the recommendations of Newquay Airport’s safety and development advisors, Osprey.

“The revisions remove residential development from the southern and southwestern parts of the site, which is the closest part of the site to the flight path at Newquay Airport.

“While the proposed changes cause the loss of the commercial units that were originally proposed adjacent to the A3059 in the northwestern corner of the site, this is necessary to maintain the quantum of residential development as originally proposed.

“It is considered that the overall development remains a sustainable mix of uses, with the retention of the convenience retail unit in the originally proposed location, and the retention of the community building, albeit in an alternative location.

“The sustainability credentials of the site remain strong with the convenience retail store and community building being retained within the revisions, to serve the needs of future residents.”