Plans to build up to 154 new homes on land off Bickland Water Road in Falmouth have been submitted to Cornwall Council

The outline application has been lodged by Midas Commercial Developments and relates to the area commonly known as Poolfield which sits between Budock Church and the main road.

It seeks to determine only the access to the development with all other matters, including layout, scale, appearance and landscaping, being reserved. The proposed development would create 92 open market homes and another 62 affordable units, along with open space and associated |infrastructure.

Budock Parish Council is planning to hold a public meeting towards the end of this month to allow residents to have their say on the scheme. Council chairman, John Bastin, said: “This site is a very large area of grade two (agricultural) land to destroy with housing. Cornwall only has ten per cent grade two land and it should be preserved for future food production.

“This area has a high flood risk - it's not called Poolfield for no reason. Who knows what will happen if it's covered in concrete and tarmac.”

In a planning statement which accompanies the application, Business Location Services say: “Due to the ridgeline which runs along the western edge of Falmouth, the residential estates and industrial buildings are not visible from the adjacent village at Budock Water.

“This gives the area a distinctly rural character with open countryside extending to the west and south towards Maenporth and Mawnan Smith.

“The vision for the development is to create a sustainable community with a defined sense of place that responds positively to the distinct character of the area.”

A list of benefits it is claimed the development will bring is also listed. It is said it would contribute to the demonstrable need for open market and affordable housing in the Falmouth and Penryn Community Network Area.

Falmouth Town Council would also have a 1.7 ha site transferred to it at nil cost for use as the town’s new |cemetery.

The planning statement adds: “The proposed development of 154 market and affordable dwellings and open space together with off-site financial contributions to highway |infrastructure and the cemetery |proposal will have a positive |socio-economic impact.

“While there is a negative economic impact associated with the loss of the 3.7 ha of agricultural land this is more than off-set by the overall |socio-economic benefit from the proposed housing development.

“It is considered that the positive benefits of the proposal in terms of the demonstrable need for market and affordable housing outweigh any adverse impact.

“Positive socio-economic benefits in terms of the provision of new housing and investment in Falmouth are |considered to be significant in the local context.”

To view the plans in full go to www.cornwall.gov.uk and search for planning application PA13/09608.