THE plan might be for just 12 new houses, but that is 12 houses too many for residents of a rural Cornish hamlet who feel that, if approved, the new homes would be “overbearing”, “insensitive” and would impact wildlife and the character of the area.

Due to opposition by locals, the parish council and the area’s Cornwall councillor, an application to build the two-storey homes, which would include seven affordable units, will come before a meeting of Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee next week.

Tom Grey and Nikki White are seeking approval for the rural exception scheme – which allows councils to grant permission for affordable housing on land that would not normally be used for housing – at Perran Downs, between Rosudgeon and Goldsithney in west Cornwall.

The application has been brought to committee by local member Cllr John Martin, who believes the proposed site is located outside the settlement of Perran Downs and, as such, does not represent infill or rounding off in accordance with Cornwall Local Plan policy.

“It represents undesirable extension and intrusion of the settlement into adjoining countryside which, without any specific justification, would be harmful to the rural character and appearance of the countryside,” he said. “The benefits of providing affordable housing do not outweigh the identified harm.”

Cornwall Council’s planning department has recommended approval with conditions, highlighting it would deliver affordable homes (four affordable rent and three shared ownership) and five open market units. The parish of Perranuthnoe currently has 63 households seeking affordable accommodation.

The proposal would also deliver approximately 2,000 square metres of public open space. A planning report disagrees with Cllr Martin’s reasons for calling the application in, stating: “The site is in the open countryside but meets the requirements of the Cornwall Local Plan to be considered suitable for a rural exception site as its location adjoins the settlement of Perran Downs.”

Perranuthnoe Parish Council unanimously objected and recommend refusal of the application, disagreeing with the Cornwall planning authority’s view and stressing the site is located outside the settlement of Perran Downs and does not represent infill or rounding off. Almost 30 people living in the area have opposed the scheme on Cornwall Council’s planning portal.

Comments include: “The local surgery, school and other amenities could not cope with a sudden surge in population, not to mention the additional strain that would be put on the local sewage system, and an already faltering water pressure service. Any suggestion of ‘in fill’ is wholly incorrect as there are no dwellings either side of the green field land which separates Perran Downs from Rosudgeon.”

“The building of these houses will destroy wildlife caused by removal of land and surrounding hedges. The once peaceful area will be destroyed under these plans.”

“Perran Downs lane is along a rural lane which is surrounded by open countryside. The wildlife is extensive and this would be completely destroyed by any further building work. The proposed site is in an 60mph zone which is very narrow and already causes problems when walkers or riders encounter vehicles coming in either direction.

“As there is no pavement, the road is used by walkers, riders, people in wheelchairs, with buggies and those walking dogs. The proposed site would reassign a chunk of land which separates Perran Downs from Rosudgeon. This would not be ‘in fill’.”

“Building of two-storey properties on a greenfield site which from the site plan and elevations are distinctly out of character with existing local properties. The two-storey elevations are overbearing and insensitive to the mainly single-storey or dormer builds of existing dwellings and will negatively impact on the rural aesthetic and open aspect of this location, which is so valued by local residents. There are brownfield sites available for development locally which should be considered as more of a priority for this type of development.”

The proposal will be discussed by the strategic planning committee at Lys Kernow / County Hall, Truro, at 10am on Thursday, August 21.