A bid to build over 150 homes on farmland close to St Budock Church has been thrown out by the Planning Inspectorate.

Midas Commercial Developments lodged the appeal after Cornwall Council refused its application for outline planning consent for the proposed development on land known locally as Poolfield.

Budock Parish Council and Falmouth Town Council both opposed the application when it went before them.
The scheme would have seen 92 homes built on the 3.7 hectare site between Budock Church and the main road, along with a further 62 affordable units, an area of open space and associated infrastructure.

Although Cornwall Council's planning officer urged councillors to approve the proposals, members of the central area planning committee rejected the application by eight votes to five.

The reasons for the refusal were the loss of agricultural land and the visual impact the development would have on the setting of the listed Budock Church.

There were also concerns over whether the local road network could cope with the additional traffic, and the lack of space at St Francis School.

Today, January 28, The Planning Inspectorate refused the appeal saying "the adverse impacts of the proposed development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits".

The decision states: "With regard to the effect on the character and appearance of the area I have found little harm to the approach to the town from the south or the character of Bickland Water Road. There would however be an adverse effect on the site itself and the perceived gap between Budock Water and Falmouth.

"And as set out above the detrimental impact on the setting of the church, churchyard wall, railings and lych gate would be considerable.

Adding that the "significance of a heritage asset can be harmed or lost through development within its setting" and when considering the impact of development on the significance of a heritage asset, to give "great weight to its conservation".

"Whilst harm to the significance of the heritage assets would be less than substantial, I consider that this is not outweighed by the benefit of the provision of market and affordable housing, the provision of open space, the opening up of access to the pill box and the marginal potential benefit of the offered cemetery land."

The planning inspector concluded that "the adverse impacts of the proposed development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, and that the appeal should be dismissed". 

However the taxpayer will be picking up some of the appeal costs.

The inspector said: "Cornwall Council shall pay to Midas Commercial Developments Ltd, the costs of the appeal proceedings described in the heading of this decision limited to those costs incurred in preparing that part of the case relating to loss of high grade agricultural land and attendance at the hearing to deal with the same." 

For the full planning appeal document click below.

Midas Bickland.pdf