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.

A PLANNING application for the construction of a new-build holiday home near Bude has been submitted to Cornwall Council.

It seeks the erection of a 1.5 storey new build dwelling to provide holiday accommodation at Treworgie Barton Cottages, St Gennys, Bude.

The applicant stated: “The wider site at Treworgie Barton Cottages has a history of successful applications for the conversion of outbuildings to holiday accommodation, listed building consents for alterations and upgrades, the change of use of one holiday let building to become a domestic dwelling, and a proposal to erect 10 glamping pods within the curtilage of the site”

“The proposal seeks full planning permission for the reinstatement of a former outbuilding, destroyed by fire in 2018, to create a five bedroom holiday-let dwelling (335 m² GIA) within an established holiday accommodation enterprise at Treworgie Barton Cottages, St Gennys.

“The new building will occupy the footprint of the original structure, making use of existing services and hardstanding that remain visible and functional. The design utilises locally-sourced Callywith slate walling and Spanish slate roofing, echoing the site’s existing vernacular. Renewable energy technologies such as roof-mounted PV panels and an air-source heat pump are under active consideration by the applicant.”

If approved, the building will join part of an established holiday complex at Treworgie Barton, with the proposed building said by the applicant to be of benefit to the area.

The plans can be viewed using reference PA25/07941.

PROPOSALS for the construction of 527 homes on land to the east of Bodmin has been approved after the developers managed to overcome concerns relating to potential flooding.

Persimmon Homes Cornwall has overcome the final phase of the planning process, known as a reserved matters application for the construction of the homes, of which 132 will be classified as ‘affordable’ on land at Priory Road, adjacent to a development which incorporates the town’s Aldi supermarket and Bodmin Police station.

The affordable element represents 25 per cent of the total development, with the Bodmin target of 30 per cent not achieved as the developer submitted documents stating that the increased target would not be viable.

The 132 affordable properties are to be split, with approximately 66 being for affordable rent and 66 for shared ownership or ‘intermediate sale’.

However, the developer had to overcome significant concerns related to flooding, with the site the land sits in forming part of the town’s critical drainage area – with warnings that if the drainage system put into place was insufficient, it could lead to significant flooding of the town.

Documents explaining the reasons for approval note the following with relation to flooding, namely: “The Environment Agency (EA) and Cornwall Council Local Lead Flood Authority (CCLLFA) raised significant concerns at the outset of this reserved matters application. The outline planning application (PA12/12115) included information and work relating to this proposed development site not increasing flood risk to Bodmin by the inclusion and landscaping of surface water storage basins at the bottom of the valley together with robust features to intercept overland flows.

“This development site is in a very sensitive location from a flood risk perspective as it occupies the valley head of the designated Critical Drainage Area. The Bodmin Town Leat watercourse (designated as main river) which this site drains into is highly sensitive to rainfall.

“The leat flows below ground through the centre of the town and this culvert, which has a limited capacity and high flows must be carefully managed to ensure that no flooding occurs. If the capacity of the culvert is exceeded, a high number of properties are at risk of flooding. Therefore, only development that demonstrates flood risk will not be increased to these existing properties is appropriate development on this site.

“A considerable amount of work has been undertaken between the developer’s consultant and dialogue with the EA and CCLLFA to ensure that the proposed drainage features in or close to the valley bottom have the ability to slow and store this flow, as agreed in the outline planning application.

“Following numerous revisions and scrutiny, the EA and CCLLFA have removed their objections to the proposal. Furthermore, they are content that sufficient information has been submitted during the course of the application to discharge the relevant planning conditions on the outline permission which includes construction phase arrangements to protect water-quality and minimise flood risk, as well as ongoing post-completion management and maintenance arrangements.

“Accordingly, it is considered that the proposal is in compliance with the relevant development plan policies that seek to minimise flood risk and protect water quality.

“In respect to potable water and mains foul drainage, South West Water has confirmed that upgrades will take place to accommodate forecast growth within the town. No objection was raised to the proposal which is considered acceptable in respect to this issue.”

Cornwall Council’s planners approved the reserved matters application subject to a number of conditions relating to phosphate mitigation measures.

There were also conditions stipulating that a maximum of 75 per cent of the development can be occupied before the promised community facilities are completed and operational in addition to the construction of pedestrian and vehicle linkages to adjoining estates in accordance with the approved plans and to an adoptable standard and other conditions related to the design of the properties.