A council planning meeting has heard that “bungalow-munching” - turning bungalows into large houses - has become a problem in a rural area of Cornwall by making properties unaffordable for local people. 

However, a resident of St Mawes says he feels victimised over his plans to extend his bungalow in the seaside village. 

Mark Mansell applied to Cornwall Council to build an additional storey and a detached garage at his home in Waterloo Close, saying it was necessary due to a neighbour’s approved planning application having an impact on his own privacy. 

His plans were recommended for approval by a planning officer who decided the changes to his bungalow wouldn’t have a harmful impact on the area.  

However, local councillor Julian German called for the proposal to be discussed by the council’s central area planning committee, as he believed it contravened the Roseland Peninsula’s neighbourhood development plan (NDP). 

Claire Wood, who lives in Waterloo Close, spoke on behalf of 15 objectors, stating that the Roseland NDP includes a condition that extensions should be in keeping with the distinctive local character and ensures that impact on neighbours is limited. “This proposal does not comply with those policies,” she said. 

Cllr Keith Warren, St Just-in-Roseland Parish Council, told councillors the proposal was a poor design which would be at odds with all other neighbouring properties. He asked for it to be refused on reasons of “bulk, scale and height”. 

Mr Mansell, the applicant, said his property has been negatively affected by an approved application by a neighbour which would “significantly impact our light, outlook and privacy in all living spaces”.  

He said he had worked with an architect, found from the council’s own website, to produce a modest build which would mitigate any effects on neighbours.   

Cllr German said the Roseland Neighbourhood Development Plan came about in part because of the frustration of “bungalow munching”.

Councillors agreed that the scale of the extension was not in keeping with the surrounding area. They voted unanimously to refuse.