Coastline Housing has won its bid for 75 affordable homes to be built next to Helston's Bulwark Estate after the MoD and neighbouring primary school withdrew their objections at the final hour.

At a Cornwall Council planning meeting this afternoon the development was passed by eight councillors in favour, four against and one abstaining.

At the start of discussions they were told that Nansloe Academy - which had previously written a letter against the scheme, detailing concerns over access and safety of children walking to and from school, as well as its potential for expansion being limited - had that day withdrawn its objections.

This was due to the school being gifted land adjacent to its existing site that would fit 119 car parking spaces, with Coastline agreeing to contribute towards developing into a parking area for parents.

As a result the school said it was "satisfied that the inherent risks of safety" could be minimised to an "acceptable level."

The MoD had also withdrawn its objections over public safety, vibration levels and the potential noise levels for future occupants, after entering into a "deed of easement" with Coastline, which will now include a clause in its rental and shared ownership agreements preventing the occupier from raising any form of complaint against the MoD over disturbance relating to the operation of nearby RNAS Culdrose.

An element of doubt was thrown on the plans shortly before the meeting, after the council's Planning Advisory Committee decided not to include the site in a long-term plan for future "strategic" development, deciding other sites were preferable.

However, senior planning officer Mark Broomhead told councillors that the fact 100 per cent of the site would be affordable housing outweighed the potential harm.

The meeting heard from a number of objectors, including Neil Perry who pointed out apparent discrepancies in the noise report carried out at Culdrose - including, he claimed, the only 24-hour period of noise recordings being carried out on a day when the station was closed.

Another objector, Mr Pritchard, added that although the deed of agreement might "solve a problem for the MoD by removing a fundamental right, the freedom of speech" it did not resolve the issues originally raised.

Helston councillor Mike Thomas spoke on behalf of the town council, which recommended refusal of the application, and asked the committee to defer its decision until further noise studies had been carried out.

Support on behalf of the application was also heard, from Coastline development manager Amy Jenkin, who said the association had begun talks with the land owners at Higher Nansloe Farm in 2013. A decision had been delayed due to the MoD objections and she warned that due to funding restraints the project had to begin by March 17 this year or "it's likely this funding allocation will be lost - lost to Helston and lost to Cornwall."

She pointed out that there were already houses, schools and a hospital in the town that Culdrose helicopters flew over.

Ms Jenkin said it was "fantastic opportunity" for people to own a house by paying only £50,000, through shared ownership. Of the 75 houses, 40 per cent would be offered for sale, with people able to buy between a 25 per cent and 75 per cent share of it.

As the Cornwall councillor for that area, Andrew Wallis was able to speak in the meeting but could not vote as he is not on the planning committee.

He spoke of his concern about the effect this development would have on the already busy Furry Way junction and also the school, acknowledging however that it was "difficult to support an objection when the school doesn't have one itself."

Mr Wallis said he was only aware of two complaints about noise from Culdrose in the 12 years he had been a councillor and it was important to "balance" the decision with the fact it was 75 homes that were 100 per cent affordable.

He asked that if the application was approved, that a "local lettings plan" with a five-year residency be included in the conditions so that the houses went to people from Helston.

Councillor Tim Andrewes from St Ives spoke against the development, saying: "Just because the MoD have withdrawn their objections that doesn't mean there isn't going to be a noise problem. I think there should be proper noise monitoring on this site before we are in a position to grant approval."

He added that sites for development in Helston had been democratically decided and this was not one.

However, councillor Cornelius Olivier from Penzance recommended the plans be approved, saying: "We don't want to do anything that stops it meeting its deadline of March 17."

It was agreed to include a request, but not a requirement, that a local lettings plan be put in place, with St Keverne and Meneage councillor Walter Sanger among the eight voting in favour.