College farm Penryn 121 homes plan decision made

A reserved matters planning application for the development on land at College Farm, College Hill, went before Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee on Monday morning.

The development already had outline planning permission, which was granted for up to 150 homes on the site in 2017.

But the latest application set out how the homes would be laid out, what they will look like and how open space and play space would be provided. Under the plans 35 per cent of the homes will be affordable.

Planning officers had recommended the plans for approval, saying that the development’s “design and appearance is of good quality”.

However the plans had received 220 objections from members of the public and an objection from Penryn Town Council.

Local resident Rory Force said that he felt that the plans went against both national planning policy and the Cornwall Local Plan.

He told the committee: “The reserved matters application does not amount to high quality buildings.”

The College Farm site

Mr Force said that he did not consider the development to be sustainable and said that it would be out of character with the local area.

He added: “This development is mediocre and poor quality.”

Mark Scoot, agent for the applicants, said that many of the objections which had been made were around the principle of development on the site which he said was “long gone” as outline permission was already in place.

He said that many of the relevant objections had been addressed and answered in the application.

Mr Scoot said that it would provide “much needed affordable housing” and “significantly more open space than is required by the development plan”.

John Langan, from Penryn Town Council, said that councillors would like to see more local materials used in the construction of the homes and a reduction in height of the buildings.

Read more: Decision date for 121 homes at Penryn's College Valley

He said they also wanted more renewable energy included in the development such as solar panels on the homes.

Penryn Cornwall councillor Mary May said that the valley where the development was planned was enjoyed by people of all generations.

She said: “During lockdown many people spent time in the valley, soaking up this green lung in the town.”

During the debate by the committee there were concerns about plans to use “bright colours” to paint the new homes.

There were also concerns about plans to have timber cladding used on some of the properties with councillors saying that this was not typical in Penryn.

The masterplan for the site

Some said that some of the homes would be better suited to a seaside development than in the town.

Mark Kaczmarek said: “These bright colours are going to stick out like a sore thumb.”

He suggested that it would be better to keep the colours neutral and in keeping with other homes in the area.

Joyce Duffin said that there were a lot of issues around the development but she felt that these had been addressed by the planning officers.

She proposed that the application be approved but said that officers should do more work on the materials for the homes.

Graham Coad seconded the proposal saying: “This is reserved matters – it has all been passed in outline. It is in the development plan document and every objection has been answered by the officers. I see no grounds for it to be refused.”

However when put to the vote there was a tie with six votes in favour, six votes against and one abstention. Lionel Pascoe abstained as he had been unable to access the early part of the meeting.

Committee chair Roger Harding had voted in favour and said that his casting vote would have to be the same way.