Residential flats for older residents will be built on a car park and former traveller site in Helston after Cornwall Council gave the project the green light .

On Monday the council's West Sub-Area Planning Committee approved the proposals by Coastline Housing to build 22 units over three storeys in the former quarry car park at Tyacke Road.

The plans are for one and two-bed apartments for affordable rent, including two that have been designed for wheelchair use, with level entry on the ground floor and lifts to the upper two.

The development will also include a communal area for use by residents with a communal lounge and garden, external landscaping, a refuse and recycling area and cycle store, as well as 23 parking spaces.

Matt Ward, head of development at Coastline Housing, said: “We are delighted to hear that the plans for this development have been approved and we look forward to being able to provide some new affordable homes for local people in Helston.”

A public consultation held during the application process saw questions raised by Helston residents, primarily about the knock on effects of parking in surrounding streets and the loss of what had been a car park.

Coastline have said that there should be minimal effects on parking as older people's accommodation has lower parking needs, and there is also a visitors parking space, while the decision to stop using the site as a car park had already been taken by Cornwall Council.

The site had formerly been a large, free car park which was used by people working in the town, until travellers moved in and set up a village, complete with a makeshift road sign at the entrance.

In 2015 Cornwall Council took action, removing the travellers and placing large boulders at the entrance to prevent further access.

In its design and access statement accompanying the application, Coastline Housing said the the scheme "has been sensitively designed in accordance with local and government policies, responds to

a local housing need, provides sufficient off street parking and is considered to be in an ideal location for affordable housing."

The company had previously said that building more one and two-bed properties for older people would help free up under-used housing stock which could then be used by larger families.

Mr Ward added: “If anyone is interested in registering their details for a new affordable home to rent, or a shared ownership home in the area, they can contact us on 01209 200200 or visit our website to find out more.”