Plans to build eight new homes in Illogan have been rejected over concerns that the site was in open countryside.

A planning application seeking outline permission to build eight homes off Bassett Road went before Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee this morning.

It was the third time the committee had considered the application after it was deferred in September for a site visit in October when councillors asked if the applicant would be willing to pay for traffic calming measures in the area.

That request had come after there were several concerns about the safety of the road adjacent to the development which is the main route from Illogan to the A30.

The committee heard that the applicant had not been willing to commit to spending money on traffic calming on the busy road.

They were told that the applicant was hoping to get outline planning permission for the development and then sell the land to a developer.

Councillors said they were concerned about the safety of the road with some saying that it seemed “dangerous” when they went for the site visit.

However the committe was told that the council’s highways officers had not raised any objections to the planning application and that if they refused permission on highways grounds the council would be likely to lose any appeal.

Illogan parish councillor Maggie Thompson said the council had a number of concerns about the plans including flood risk, highways safety and the effect on wildlife and the environment.

Local Cornwall councillor David Ekinsmyth said he thought the development would have a harmful impact and would be further “creeping urbanisation” in Illogan.

He addded that the neighbourhood development plan had moved forward since the application last went before the committee and said it “is clear that there is no need for open market properties”.

“What there is a need for,” he explained, “is affordable homes of which this development will offer none.”

The committee also heard concerns that there had been no assessment made of wildlife habitats on the site which is thought could be a roosting spot for bats.

Committee chairman Mark Kaczmarek proposed that the application be refused on the grounds that it would be encroaching into open countryside.

The committee voted 11 to two to refuse outline planning permission with one abstention.