Plans to build four new houses on the Lizard which would have views across the coast have been rejected as they would harm the landscape.

A planning application had been submitted to Cornwall Council to build the new houses on land at Kuggar, Ruan Minor.

Two pairs of semi-detached houses were planned for the site and planning officers had recommended that the west sub-area planning committee should grant permission when it discussed the plans on Monday.

Planning officers said the new properties would be prominent but, as planning permission had previously been granted for the site, they were “on balance” acceptable.

Grade Ruan Parish Council objected to the plans and highlighted that a previous appeal decision had stated that development would harm the area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

They also highlighted that there would be no affordable housing provision as part of the development and said there was no need for open market homes in the village.

Carolyn Rule, Cornwall councillor for the area, supported the objection and stressed the importance of protecting the AONB.

She said: “There was an application on this site for five properties that you thankfully turned down and the application went to appeal and it was dismissed.”

Cllr Rule said the site should only be developed “for a scheme that will conserve and enhance the landscape” and she said the proposed plans would not do that.

She said: “It would draw the eye and therefore does not enhance the AONB. The AONB would not be conserved or enhanced with this development.

“There is not clear evidence of need for this. It will not be affordable and I can only see that they would be unaffordable.”

Committee member Mark Kaczmarek proposed that the application be refused due to “adverse impact on the AONB”. It was seconded by Mary May.

The committee voted unanimously in favour of refusal.