Two Helston residents are fighting a High Court battle against plans to build 75 new homes next to one of the town's primary schools.

Jo Trickett and David Carr are seeking a Judicial Review of Cornwall Council's decision in March, to grant Coastline Housing planning permission for the affordable houses and flats on a field next to Nansloe Academy.

The site at Bulwark is 1km to the north west of RNAS Culdrose and in close proximity to the secondary flight path.

The judicial review claim relates to the impact of the airbase on the living conditions of future occupiers of the proposed development.

The objectors have also raised concerns about the setting of Grade II-listed Nansloe Manor, a hotel owned by Mr Carr's wife Betty.

The council's barrister, Sancho Brett, told Mr Justice Haddon-Cave that there is a "severe housing crisis in Cornwall and a significant lack of affordable housing."

A Local Plan adopted in November 2016 had set "ambitious targets for housing land supply in Cornwall," he added.

The planning application is for 45 affordable rental and 30 shared ownership properties and the MoD had withdrawn its initial objection to the plans.

Mr Brett told the court: "The council has made no error of law and the grounds disclose no valid basis for challenge.

"The council respectfully contends that the claims should be dismissed."

Richard Turney, for social housing provider Coastline Housing, said the proposed development "is immediately adjacent to existing housing, which is largely occupied without complaint."

"Both claimants moved to the area notwithstanding the operations at RNAS Culdrose," he added.

Mr Carr's wife, the court heard, has "invested extensively in the refurbishment of Nansloe Manor to form a hotel, despite it being several hundred metres closer to the runways at Culdrose than the application site."

Addressing the impact on Nansloe Manor, Mr Turney added: "It is inconceivable that such an impact - on a driveway of a listed building - could be thought to outweigh the very substantial planning benefits of the provision of 75 affordable homes."

The hearing continues and Mr Justice Haddon-Cave is expected to reserve his judgment until a later date.

Back in March, when Cornwall Council's planning committee for the area met to make a decision on the application, the meeting heard from a number of objectors, including Neil Perry.

He 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.

The MoD had initially made objections over public safety, vibration levels and the potential noise levels for future occupants, but withdrew them after entering into a "deed of easement" with Coastline. It was agreed the housing association would 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.

Another objector at that time, 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.