Next week, a Cornwall Council committee will decide whether 48 affordable homes will be built in a mid Cornwall village. The planning department has recommended approval, but the local division member, the parish council and 134 online objections argue the development should be refused.
Developer Gilbert & Goode Ltd applied to build the 48 properties, along with open space, landscaping and associated infrastructure, on land north of Carkeeks Close, St Stephen, near St Austell. The application will go before the council's strategic planning committee on Thursday, September 24, after a request by Reform UK councillor for St Stephen, Elaine Kist.
Planning officers say there is a significant need for the type of accommodation proposed. The Homechoice housing register shows 360 households in the parish seeking affordable homes. The introduction of such homes is supported by the National Planning Policy Framework and "would result in significant social and environmental benefits".
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Officers note that landscape harm would result from the proposal, as it would introduce residential development onto two undeveloped parcels of land on the eastern edge of St Stephen and affect views towards the village to the north and across the wider landscape. The design would also bring a predominantly two-storey development into an area that is currently single storey in character. However, officers believe none of that would override the need for more affordable homes in the village. The council's highways officer has raised no objection and believes the local road network can accommodate the traffic likely to be generated.
A large number of locals disagree, including members of St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council. The parish council stated: "Members are not opposed in principle to the delivery of 48 affordable homes and recognise the need for such provision within the parish. However, members have grave concerns regarding several material planning considerations namely: highway safety with the access considered to be in wrong location, the current location would have a significant impact on the amenity and safety of residents in Carkeek Close, as well as Brannel School, Rectory Road and Park Gwyn due to the likely increase in traffic generation and vehicle movements."
Parish councillors also have an issue with infrastructure capacity, with serious concerns regarding the capacity of the existing water network, "supported by local knowledge of ongoing water pressure issues in the area and the application not demonstrating that the current system can accommodate the additional demand". They also feel the development could result in increased noise and disturbance to existing residents, both during construction and once occupied.
Cllr Kist agreed with the parish council's concerns. She said: "My greatest concern is the impact this development would have on an already congested road network. Residents have described severe traffic problems during school drop-off and pick-up times. The nearby school is oversubscribed, and the road network is already struggling to cope with the volume of traffic. There are now large numbers of buses using roads that were never designed to accommodate such levels of traffic, resulting in regular queuing and congestion. These problems affect not only residents but also access to the local doctor's surgery. Patients can experience difficulty getting to and from appointments, and residents have described feeling effectively trapped in their homes during peak periods because they cannot safely access the road. I am particularly concerned about emergency access. Should emergency vehicles need to reach a property or the doctor's surgery during these periods of congestion, delays could occur when every minute matters. There are also legitimate concerns regarding pedestrian safety given the volume of traffic already using these roads."
The application will be discussed during next Thursday's meeting, which takes place at 10am in the council chamber at Lys Kernow in Truro.
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Locals Oppose Plan For 48 Affordable Homes In St Stephen