Members of the public are being given the chance to have their say on a plan to build 340 homes in the north of Helston.

Cornwall Council has set up a public meeting to help advise its planning committee members on making a decision over the application for land between Gwealdues and Trewennack.

The outline application from Jackamax Ltd is for up to 340 houses, including a percentage of affordable homes, together with offices and medical practice.

The public meeting will be held at 6pm on Thursday, December 4 at Helston Community College.

Anyone who attends the meeting and wants to share their views on the planning application with the Strategic Planning Committee will be asked to register on arrival and will then be called upon to speak.

No decision will be taken at the public meeting, with the planning committee meeting again at a later date.

Full details of the application can be found on the online planning register under reference number PA14/07450 via http://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/ The 15.4 hectare HX1 site is the first from three potential options identified by Cornwall Council to be submitted for planning permission.

The council has estimated that Helston will need 900 homes built in the next two decades – only half of which will fit in existing developed areas. As a result it identified three areas, known as HX1, HX2 and HX3, that would have the potential for development.

Helston Town Council has already met to discuss the Trewennack application, HX1, with its planning members Mark Upton, John Boase, Mike Thomas and John Martin unanimously recommending refusal on the grounds that under the local structure planning policy this was not identified as the preferred development site in Helston; members also had concerns about highways access for emergency vehicles, which could also lead to a disconnect from the town, and health and safety over the flood alleviation scheme.