Porthleven’s councillors have backed plans to develop land opposite the Atlantic Inn into houses.

It was after hearing from the owners of the land in Peverell Terrace, Mark and Philippa Mina, about their hopes of building two houses, one of which they would live in with their two young children.

Mrs Mina told the town council last week that she was well aware of the “sensitive” nature of the land and they had spent almost two years deciding what development would be “appropriate for the village.”

She said: “We want to live here and continue to live here peacefully! We’re aware of the massive sensitivities over the views over Mounts Bay.”

Her family had been living with her mum, Barbara Matthews, for the last four years, in a house that had been in her family for eight generations and in which Philippa had grown up.

The proposed development land belonged to her late father and had now come into her hands. Currently it was filled with sheds, aviaries and other equipment relating to her father’s hobbies, and was somewhat run down.

Architect Chris Strike had drawn up plans for two semi-subterranean houses, which would have flat roofs and be set on a lower ground level, so that from the road level they would be effectively invisible.

This was the second set of designs, following initial feedback, and they were now confident that the houses would “have zero impact on views” and would in fact improve the look of the area.

Their aim was to live in the four-bedroom house and sell the other house to help finance the project.

Deputy mayor Andrew Wallis reminded councillors that there had been “some opposition, to understate it” towards a previous application there, but regarding this one he believed: “The applicant has been really sensitive towards the area and understands that to put a large building here with a ridge height would cause a lot of difficulties for the Atlantic and other neighbours in the area.

“What you’ve got now is a sunken house. When you stand on the balcony of the Atlantic Inn there will be no change to the horizon whatsoever.”

Crucially, the landlady of the Atlantic Inn, Leigh Santi, was supportive of the plans, he added.

Councillor Dick Powell described it as a “very exciting development” and said he was surprised at how large the piece of land was, which would “not be swallowed up” by such a project.

Members voted to support the application when it comes before Cornwall Council.

Drawings of the proposed houses can be found at the Atlantic Inn, as well as on the Cornwall Council website.