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.

PROPOSALS seeking the erection of three car self-wash units, together with the erection of a 2.4 metre high palisade security fence around the site has been submitted for land in Bude.

The address of the proposed car wash is the former site of Prichard Plastics Ltd on Kings Hill Industrial Estate, Bude, EX23 8QN.

The applicant told Cornwall Council: “The proposal is the construction of three car self-wash units, together with erection of 2.4m high palisade security fence around overall site perimeter - Plot 1, Kings Hill Industrial Estate, Bude EX23 8QN.

“The site is at the northern entrance to Kings Hill Industrial Estate and is presently the site of the demolished former Pritchard Plastics Building - which had been on the site since the 1970s. It was in a poor state of repair and need of replacement and was demolished subsequent to the granting of consent for two industrial buildings on the site under PA22/02825.

“This development has been commenced but with no immediate takers for the units the applicant wishes to make alternative use of at least part of the site. The proposed car self-wash units are an increasingly demanded facility and locationally, the site is in a good area for the proposed use.

“It has good access via the A3073 Kings Hill and is almost immediately accessed off the industrial estate road on leaving the A3073 - thus minimising impact on the main estate roads. The units will be located immediately on the entrance to the site with a parking /waiting area if required. Site operation would be 24 hours with a pay on entry to the wash unit system.

‘It would be unsupervised other than for maintenance and cleaning. Silt traps are located in the wash areas for each unit and an oil interceptor is located along the discharge outlet.

“The palisade security fencing is a standard security feature for many industrial estate units and is required to ensure the overall site remains secure. The wash area will be located outside of the proposed perimeter security fence to enable 24 hour access.”

Cornwall Council will make the final decision on the application which can be viewed using reference PA26/01931.

AN application for a permission in principle seeking approval for plans to construct up to four dwellings on land near Tintagel has been approved by Cornwall Council.

The application concerned land to the east of Trewethen Farmhouse in Tregatta, Tintagel, PL34 0DX.

A permission in principle (PiP) consent route is an alternative way of obtaining planning permission for housing-led development which separates the consideration of matters of principle for proposed development from the technical detail of the development. The PiP consent route has 2 stages: the first stage (or PiP stage) establishes whether a site is suitable in principle and the second ('technical details consent (TDC)') stage is when the detailed development proposals are assessed.

The application told Cornwall Council: “Trewethen Farm (to the west of the site) was a public house with lodging known as the ‘Min Pin Inn’ between 1986 and 1993.

“The majority of the application site was a car park for the establishment during this period. With respect to this, and the current residential land use as parking and garden the site can be classed as previously developed land, and as such is a suitable location for development to take place.

“Since the pub closed the hardstanding parking area is sparsely used by the current residents of Trewethen Farm for private vehicle parking.”

Cornwall Council, in approving the application stated: “The proposal is considered to represent sustainable development in terms of location, land use and amount when tested against the three objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework 2024 (paragraph 8) and the locational principles of development that continue to carry weight under Policy 3 of the Cornwall Local Plan Strategic Policies 2010 to 2030 as well as the principles of sustainable travel embodied in Policies C1 and T1 of the Climate Emergency Development Plan Document 2023.”

The full proposals which were approved by the authority can be viewed on the Cornwall Council planning portal using reference PA26/01395

AN application seeking the construction of up to three dwellings on land near Bude has been submitted to Cornwall Council.

The application cncerns the address known as Rambridge located on Stone Hill, Poughill, Bude, EX23 9HH.

It is seeking a permission in principle for the construction of up to three dwellings on the land.

The applicant told Cornwall Council: “The site contains the detached bungalow known as Rambridge, which has rendered walls under a pitched slate roof. The dwelling sits within a large plot comprising of overgrown gardens, vegetable beds and various structures, including polytunnels and sheds. The dwelling is currently empty. An aerial image from 2009 is provided below which gives a clear picture of these structures; it is mostly only the bases of these structures that now remain.

“Whilst the site has a rural character, through being sandwiched in between Wooda Farm Park and existing dwellings, and its proximity to Poughill, it is not isolated.

“The site affords generous external areas for parking and external amenity and is large enough to ensure the dwellings would be a sufficient distance from existing boundaries and roads.”

Cornwall Council will, at a later date make a decision on the proposals and if granted, it would require a secondary application prior to construction.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

The full proposals and responses from consultees can be viewed on the Cornwall Council planning portal using reference PA26/02201.