Plans to build a home on land at Boscawen Fields in Falmouth have been refused planning permission by Cornwall Council.

Applicant Thomas Byass had sought outline permission to build a grass-roofed bungalow on former South West Water land that had previously been the site of a controversial and short-lived mobile cafe business.

However the plans were quick to draw criticism from residents, with 168 objections registered on Cornwall Council's online planning site.

And the proposal also failed to gain the support of Falmouth Town Council's planning committee, with councillor Candy Atherton describing the application as "quite appalling," and saying "We have to think about the view from the sea - our harbour area around the bay is well used and the view would be completely different."

In a design statement accompanying the application, planning consultancy Situ8 said the site "constitutes previously developed land," and was "not of high value in respect of visual amenity."

They added: "We contend that it would be possible to build a high quality and aesthetically sensitive dwelling that would sit sympathetically within this unique landscape without harming the character or

appearance of the area."

However critics, including members of the Boscawen Fields action group and the Falmouth Bay Residents' Association, all believed that the plans would spoil the setting of the fields and could set a precedent for more development on the green site.

Stephanie Wheeler wrote on the planning site that the "peace and quiet of this lovely area" needed to be protected and any building "would spoil the natural beauty of a popular location along the South West Coast Path."

She added: "It has been noted that the PPSO confirms that the site in question is recognised as an integral part of the Boscawen Fields public open space and that the emerging Cornwall Site Allocations DPD identifies the site as Key Strategic Open Space. These statements confirm that no development should be allowed on the site."

A Cornwall Council officer's report noted: "The proposed development lies within Boscawen Fields, an area gifted to the people of Falmouth by Lord Kimberley and managed as public open

space by Cornwall Council.

"Although the parcel of land is in private ownership there are no fences or barriers enclosing the site and demarcating it from the adjoining Cornwall Council owned land which is laid out as an informal grass area used by dog walkers and those walking between Swanpool beach and Gyllyngvase beach."

Planning officer Phil Mason refused planning permission on the grounds that the proposal would harm the "established character and appearance of Boscawen Fields."