A bid to build 40 homes for pensioners in Helston has failed to find the support of the town council.

Coastline Housing has applied for outline planning permission to build one-bed and two-bedroom apartments, plus community areas, on part of the Helston Business Park land adjacent to Clodgey Lane.

This would feature 40 residential units, built in two stages, aimed at people over the age of 50 living in Helston or with a connection to the town.

The housing association hopes to build 14 one-bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom apartments in the first phase, together with communal facilities.

The second phase would then see a further 18 one-bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom apartments, with an extension of the communal areas.

In a document accompanying the application, the Architects Design Group, working on behalf of Coastline, wrote: “The applicant believes that this proposal provides an excellent opportunity for the local community and that the proposed building would significantly improve the existing, outdated accommodation.”

The application includes facilities for refuse, recycling, cycle and mobility scooter storage closely associated to each home, with a plan to also include parking areas, plus communal and garden areas, to “promote interaction between residents.”

Parking would be to the north of the building, with a new vehicle and pedestrian access created off the A394, on the site’s western boundary.

Aims of the development include keeping couples together within their own homes, and independently for longer, in accommodation that is “well insulated, warm and efficient.”

It is also claimed that the homes could “prevent bed-blocking in hospitals.”

Coastline has already been in talks with Cornwall Council for pre-application advice and spoken with the Helston Town Framework Steering Group made up of town and Cornwall councillors, business owners and members of the community.

There was concern over the loss of commercial space on the business park, although the architects said it was “generally accepted that there were few development opportunities on brownfield sites.”

Helston Town Council’s planning committee met last Thursday and recommended refusing the plan.

They feared it would exacerbate existing traffic and road safety problems, cause a “significant” increase of traffic movements in the area, and be an overdevelopment of the site in terms of footprint and height in comparison with the size of the plot.

Members also believed the development would provide insufficient parking for the potential 40 households who would live on the site, who would be isolated from all services within the town.

They added a concern that it would result in the loss of an area designated for business use, as well as being contrary to the Helston Town Framework.

There was also concern on the Cornwall Council website, with Rebecca Rowe writing: “This stretch of road is very busy with traffic throughout the day and night and there does not seem to be any markings for traffic calming or a pedestrian crossing.”

She also feared there was not enough parking, leading to cars being parked on the road outside, resulting in noise and safety issues.