THE battle to save one of Falmouth's last greenfield sites from being destroyed by developers entered a new phase this week.

Planning inspector Nicholas Hammans brushed aside objections from Falmouth MP Candy Atherton, local residents, English Nature and the town council to allow an appeal from Wainhomes to build houses at Goldenbank.

The land lies just above Swanpool, a site of special scientific interest, and it is claimed any major development would have a devastating effect upon it.

The company now has three years to submit details of the siting, design and appearance of the buildings they want to put on the site. At this stage it is not known what Wainhomes have in mind.

The company appealed against a condition from a planning permission granted for the site in 1996 restricting the building of homes at Goldenbank to ten per hectare.

The town council wanted no more than 69 houses on the site but Mr Hammans said he disagreed.

In an 18 page decision he said the 1998 local plan was in disarray and neither of the principal parties relied upon it, and there is a long time to wait for a new local plan.

"The planning condition in question, which restricts development to ten dwellings per hectare, arises from an outdated policy and different circumstances. It is no longer justified and should be removed," he said.

He said the practical consequence of allowing the appeal was to renew parent outline planning permission, which could not otherwise be implemented.

"The effect of development and climate change on wildlife and all other matters raised in evidence, did not justify refusal," he said.

He said the housing site at Goldenbank was "suitable, available, sustainable and needed in the short term."

"There is no overriding reason to hold back development on this greenfield land to achieve development on the brownfield."

He said to only allow the building of 69 houses on the site would be a waste of a very attractive and versatile building land, not withstanding the feelings of local residents and local representatives.

One of those local representatives, Carrick district councillor Andrew Bennett, said he was very disappointed by the inspector's decision.

"I think the loss of this greenfield site effects not just the residents and people of Falmouth but visitors as well," he said.

"I will be meeting with Carrick officers within the next few days to discuss the impact of this decision and decide what action to take from here."

Philipa Tindle, one of the residents who protested against the original proposal for 116 houses on the site which was thrown out by the secretary of state, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the decision.

"Basically it's here we go again," she said. "I don't think for a minute that Wainhomes will just want to put 69 homes on the site leaving some green space.

"Wainhomes will be whooping with joy but let's just hope when the original application was thrown out it was a warning shot across the bows for them to come up with something more appropriate for the area."

Wainhomes was unavailable for comment as the Packet went to press.