Plans for up to 300 new homes on farmland near Falmouth have been approved by planners.

Outline plans for up the homes along Bickland Water were given the green light by
Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee, with members voting 14 to 6 in support of the scheme.

Read how the plans are an affront to the views of locals and locals councils, according to the chair of Budock parish council, here: LETTER

Persimmon Homes (SW) Ltd and Taylor Wimpey Homes UK Ltd want to build the homes, along with a local centre, to include a shop, public open space and footpath and cycle links, on land at Lower Kergilliack Farm off Bickland Water Road.

The plan prompted objections from nearby residents, Falmouth Town Council and Budock Parish Council. 

Planning officer, Peter Bainbridge, recommended conditional approval following discussions with the developers over recent months.

He said agreement has been reached on highway works, which include a new junction at Union Corner and new roundabout at the entrance to the site on Bickland Hill, and the level of affordable housing, which will be maintained at 35 per cent.

Acting for the developers, WYG Planning and Environment, have said: “The applicant has listened to the community concerns regarding traffic congestion and highway safety and responded with a robust package of proposals that will benefit existing road users and future residents of the development.

“The amended plans demonstrate how the development can be comprehensively integrated into the existing and future proposed communities.”

On Monday night, Falmouth Town Council's planning committee agreed that Councillors Diana Merrett and Alan Jewell should attend tomorrow's meeting and reiterate the council's recommendation that the scheme be refused.

However, that decision had been made before the recent elections and is not a view shared by all new members. Councillor Steve Eva said: “I believe if we have to build houses somewhere, this is better than Bickland Water Road up by the factories.

“We earmarked this for houses five-years-ago and now we are saying we should not build on it. Personally, if we have to put 300 houses somewhere, I feel that's the right place to put them and I would support it, but this council refused it.”

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