Flooding was the main concern in a debate on plans to increase the number of homes built in a new development to the north of Helston.

The town council’s planning committee met to discuss D2 Planning Ltd’s bid to increase the number of houses on the so-called HX1 site at Trenethick from 340 to 450 - and neighbours came out in force to protest.

A resident of nearby Forth Gwedhen said the flood risk assessment only considered the proposed new homes and not the effect on the neighbouring estates.

He added of the development site: “That field is 83 metres from its highest point down to the stream that runs at the back of my garden.

“What we’re worried about is who is looking after our interests as current residents?

“The storms are coming round more and more often. My back garden is more like the Somme battlefield of 1916 than a modern housing estate.”

David Harris questioned what the effect on Gweek would be during times of heavy rain, saying: “Gweek is going to flood on high tides if we have a lot of water at this end.

“Everybody is talking about [flooding] up there, but nobody is talking about the end product.”

Another man, who works for South West Water, confirmed that flood water was “becoming a problem” across the whole of the county.

Councillors voted to recommend the application be refused, believing it would be an overdevelopment of the site, with the increase potentially exceeding the number of houses needed in the town.

They added that there was “insufficient information” on the flood risk to neighbouring estates and the risk assessment being used by developers did not appear to have been updated to allow for the proposed increase in properties.

They also felt there was not enough primary school places to cater for the increase in families and believed the public drainage network for sewerage did not have enough space to cope with such an increase in demand.

D2 Planning Ltd, which has taken on the application from Jackamax, already has permission to build 340 homes on the site, after a planning inspector ruled in favour of the development at appeal.

A decision on this latest application is due to be made by Cornwall Council in April.