EACH week, hundreds of planning applications come before Cornwall Council’s planning department, seeking to win approval for various plans right across the Duchy, with some concerning Holsworthy handled by Torridge District Council.

These plans can comprise of a number of different reasonings– ranging from permission to replace windows or listed building consent ranging up to large house building developments or changing of use of a building, for instance, from an office to a café, or flats.

Within this large and often complex system, there are a number of formats from which planning advice and approval can be sought.

These range from full applications where all the details which comprise a proposed development or work to a building are submitted, to outline applications, where further details are yet to be confirmed, for example, an outline application with reserved matters for appearance may not confirm the final proposed development but rather seek permission in principle.

An example of this is one for an outline permission for 20 dwellings on land with reserved matters for appearance and scale; the reserved matters would require further permission later for their inclusion.

Other types of applications include pre-application advice requests, where would-be developers submit often outline proposals to a local authority to ascertain whether it is likely to gain support or not prior to submitting a planning application.

The vast majority of applications are decided by planning officers employed by a local authority under ‘delegated powers’, meaning they do so on behalf of their employer, however, some applications are ‘called in’ by local councillors to be discussed at an area’s strategic planning committee meeting, meaning the final decision rests with a committee of councillors.

TWO planning application seeking the expansion of holiday accommodation units at Whalesborough Farm in Marhamchurch has been approved by Cornwall Council.

The first application (PA26/02895) sought the siting of six accommodation units and two shepherds huts on land to the north of Whalesborough Bungalow while the second (PA26/02896) sought the siting of three holiday accommodation units with associated access on land to the north of Gwari Barns on the Whalesborough Farm complex.

A third application from the UK Country Parks Ltd which owns the site, which seeks to revise a previously granted application for 68 holiday units on the site (PA26/03778) is yet to be decided by the Cornwall Council planning department.

The applicant’s planning agent told Cornwall Council that the three units near Gwari Barn would be located in a currently undeveloped field within the wider Gwari Field site, adding that the location currently does not serve a purpose but is surrounded by built form.

Meanwhile, the other six lodges and two shepherd’s huts would be located on an undeveloped and underutilised field within the wider site called Animal Field – which is currently used for the keeping of animals such as pigs and alpacas.

Marhamchurch Parish Council said: “Following a detailed discussion, a proposal of No Objection was put forward but with a request that conditions re speed reduction measures along A39 be considered and discussed with Cornwall Highways and funded by the applicant.”

However, no condition for this was attached to the approval.

The two applications sought to add a modest increase in the number of holiday accommodation on the site with the proposed lodges meeting the ‘definition of caravans’ and being constructed off-site.

The planning agent for the applicant said of the lodges being proposed: “The proposed holiday lodges have been selected to reflect the company’s continued ethos of providing an immersive outdoor experience.

“The design of the units seeks to maximise natural light while incorporating materials and finishes that reflect the surrounding landscape. The overall design approach seeks to reflect the local vernacular, with a layout that focuses on the clustering of units and integration with the wider park setting.

“The material palette available for the proposed units follow the local appearance and style of the resort and indeed the Cornish surroundings.

“The units proposed do not in any way resemble the conventional image of a caravan and instead are bespoke, modular and high-quality units which enhance the prestige and renown of the Whalesborough Resort and Spa.”

Cornwall Council issued conditional approval to both proposals.

A FORMER care home in Bodmin which has been empty since its closure could have a future use for the provision of specialist social housing for vulnerable and disabled people.

Alpus and Lime Developments are seeking to transform the disused Belmont House nursing home, which it refers to as Bodmin House in the planning documents submitted to Cornwall Council, into 13 units of accommodation.

It would comprise of eight self-contained flats within the existing building in addition to the construction of five bungalows within the wider curtilage of the site at the property on Love Lane in the town.

The proposals at present are at the pre-application stage, where a potential applicant submits its proposals to Cornwall Council in order to obtain the planning authority’s view on whether it would be likely to obtain approval if it was to be progressed to a full planning application.

Pre-application advice responses also detail what would be necessary to increase the chances of approval if the proposals as submitted might find itself facing difficulties in obtaining approval.

At times, the response if the proposals are unacceptable and unlikely to obtain support would make clear that it is ‘unlikely to obtain officer support’.

In the instance of the proposals for the former Belmont House, Alpus and Lime Developments do not presently own the site, with it being a possibility that a deal to acquire the site would be contingent on either obtaining planning approval or a positive pre-application advice response.

The developer’s planning agent told Cornwall Council: “Bodmin House is a former nursing home that has been vacant for some time and is no longer in active care use.

“The applicant proposes to bring this underutilised building and its associated site back into meaningful residential use, delivering a total of 13 units comprising eight self-contained flats within the existing building and five bungalows within the wider site curtilage.

“The scheme is specifically designed to provide specialised social housing for vulnerable and disabled people, addressing a recognised gap in specialist and adapted residential provision within the local area.

“The applicant is committed to ensuring that all units are designed and managed to meet the operational requirements of this occupier group, with accessibility and suitability at the forefront of the design approach.”

The developer said it was seeking Cornwall Council’s views on the following: whether it would support the principle of the change of use of the building from a C2 to a C3B classification for specialist social housing purposes; any specific design, access or amenity consideration that the authority wishes to see addressed, the likely scope of what supporting documents and technical assessments that are required and any site-specific restraints and designations that is deemed relevant.

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It added: “We welcome the opportunity to engage positively with the Planning Authority at this early stage and are committed to working collaboratively to ensure the proposal is brought forward in a manner that responds fully to the Authority's requirements and the needs of the local community.”