A couple’s plans to rebuild a derelict cottage have been thwarted after a planning committee rejected the proposals.

Richard Ward and his partner had wanted to reinstate the cottage which sits on Old Portreath Road, Redruth.

Under the plans the cottage would be rebuilt as a two-storey house with three bedrooms.

But planning officers said that because of the state of the remnants of the former cottage the proposals were not considered to be a reinstatement.

In a report which went to Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee today it was stated: “The site is considered to be in the countryside.

“Although the proposal is termed ‘reinstatement’ the works required to create the dwelling would not constitute a conversion or reuse of existing building. The existing structure on site is the remnants of stone walling.”

Officers recommended refusal of the plans saying that they would not be in accord with the Cornwall Local Plan and would be “unjustified residential development”.

Mr Ward told councillors that the cottage would be on the footprint of the original building and said planning permission had been granted for two other homes along the same road.

He said it would be a two-minute walk to the nearest bus stop so would not be reliant on using a car.

Mr Ward said he wanted to ensure the derelict site did not fall into ruin and asked councillors to visit the site to see it for themselves.

Responding to questions from councillors Mr Ward said he believed the cottage had been used up until the 1970s but did not have any photographs to show what it might have looked like.

Redruth Town Council had unanimously supported the plans and they were also backed by local Cornwall councillor Stephen Barnes.

He said in a written submission: “This application has the unanimous support from Redruth Town Council planning committee. There is also support from George Eustice MP and from the applicant’s neighbour. With my support this looks like it only needs consent from the west planning committee to make it a full house.”

Committee members were sympathetic towards Mr Ward and said they would have liked to have supported the plans but there were strong policy reasons for not doing so.

Mike Thomas said he hoped Mr Ward would look again at the proposals and find a way that they would meet planning guidelines.

That was backed by committee chairman Mark Kaczmarek who said: “It is a house, a derelict house. I would like to see it brought back as a building. I hope that the applicants will come back with something else.”

The planning application was refused with eight votes in favour and five against.