Demolition of almost 50 garages in Helston to make way for houses may never go ahead, despite the fight for permission going all the way to the Planning Inspectorate.

Last week the Packet reported how Cornwall Council's refusal of Coastline Housing's plans was overthrown by planning inspector John Wilde, who also ordered the council to pay costs.

It was over the housing association's applications to demolish 29 garages in Oates Road and 18 garages in Trelawney Road, and in their place build two one-bedroom flats and two one-bedroom bungalows at each site. More can be found here.

Now, however, it has been revealed that the development could be in question, after Coastline admitted it was having to re-evaluate the cost of the work to take into account parking being provided before building could begin.

A spokesperson for Coastline Housing said: “Due to the planning delays we are currently re-tendering development costs for the sites.

“The planning permissions require parking to be provided as approved as part our application.”

He confirmed that once the tenders were back, Coastline would then make a decision over whether to continue with the work.

Coastline had promised one parking space would be provided per unit, with a further eight spaces created elsewhere on Oates Road. An additional 16 spaces would be created within the grass verges in neighbouring Beacon Parc. A further six spaces would be created near to Trelawney Road.

However, when allowing permission for the developments, planning inspector Mr Wilde made a number of conditions that stated the parking spaces must be provided at Beacon Parc before any work began, and at both sites before anyone moved into the new homes.

A Coastline spokesperson had previously said the garage sites were costly to maintain and warned that if these schemes did not go ahead government funding to build specialist housing for rent for older persons or people with a disability would be lost in Helston.