A 46 home development in Mawnan Smith will get the go ahead despite the protestations of residents and the parish council, as long as an affordable housing agreement is reached.

Cornwall Council's west sub-area planning committee authorised the council's head of planning to approve the proposal for Sampys Hill, after Cornwall Councillor John Bastin had raised local concerns over the level of affordable housing compared to open market homes.

The plans by Taylor Wimpey are for half of the homes to be affordable, and councillors resolved that a Section 106 agreement should be put in place to ensure the development provides an appropriate mix of housing, new on site public space, a £20,000 contribution towards off site open space, and a financial contribution towards education.

Mawnan Parish Council had opposed details of the plans as they felt that providing one- and two-bedroom properties as the majority of affordable housing and three-or four-bed properties for market housing skewed the balance away from providing affordable homes for local families. They also believed that having all the affordable properties adjoining Sampys Hill created "two levels of property on the site" and they would "bear the brunt of traffic noise and pollution."

They were also concerned that the planners had removed a car park which was included in an earlier design due to the loss of parking on the main hill, and added that its replacement with a block of flats would affect the appearance of one of the village's main approaches.

The plan received 20 objections on Cornwall Council's planning website, including from Janet Smith who wrote: "The development is too large and dominant as you drive into the village. The visual impact is unacceptable, changing the nature of a small rural village."

She also questioned whether or not the development would have street lights, as did many other objectors, with the general feeling that lighting would create light pollution in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Andrew Walker wrote: "The removal of the proposed village car park from the plan seems to be an attempt to withdraw a "sweetener" at this stage."

Graham Marsden added his concern over the lack of a footpath along the road, and said: "Children... will daily have their lives put at risk as they negotiate their way round the parked vehicles on Sampys Hill and walk on the road; literally within inches of the passing cars, trucks and farm vehicles which use this busy road. It's unsafe."

Mr Bastin, Cornwall Councillor for Constantine, Mawnan and Budock, said at the meeting that he believed the footpath and car park to be vital to anyone living on the estate, while the road is narrow and dangerous, and he could not support the application unless a footway and car park were included in the plans.

Councillors voted by eight to four in favour of the plans, with 2 abstaining.