The Catholic church's bid for a housing development described as "un-Christian" by protestors has been thrown out a second time and will not go ahead.

Villagers of Mullion were said be in "uproar" over what they saw as unnecessary development on an area of outstanding natural beauty bordered by Nansmellyon Road and Polurrian Road, just down from the Polurrian Hotel, where outline planning permission was sought for 25 homes.

The application proposed 30 per cent of the homes would be classed 'affordable', with a range of one-bed to four-bed bungalows and 1.5 storey properties, where there was a room in the roof.

All homes would have two parking spaces, through a combination of in-curtilage parking and garages.

A petition against the plans was signed by 5,700 people and 130 letters of objection were received by Cornwall Council.

These included the view it was "very un-Christian of the church to submit this application", while one resident described the feeling of the village as "absolute uproar."

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There were also queries over the use of the land that was left to the Diocese of Plymouth by Major Sheila Howe in her will, in order for a new Catholic church to be build there to replace the existing St Michael the Archangel on Meaver Road.

However, a spokesperson for the diocese said St Michael was "still of sufficient size" for a weekly Catholic Mass at Mullion, and supported by two other churches in Helston and Falmouth.

He said the application was designed to address the "severe shortage of homes for local people in Cornwall" and would help the church deliver its other charitable objectives, such as upkeep of churches and schools, and initiatives addressing the needs of the poor and vulnerable members of the community.

Cornwall Council refused the application back in January, with planning officer Matthew Doble saying the change to the wider landscape would be "unacceptably harmful."

Added to this was the fact that the Education Service had said the proposal would place additional pressure on Mullion Secondary School and that a financial contribution towards improvements at the school would be required.

Now a Planning Inspector has agreed with the council and dismissed an appeal from James Wilson of The Diocese of Plymouth.

Inspector Andrew Spencer-Peet said: "Although not a major development in the area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), the appeal proposal would still be a significant development."

He acknowledged the benefits of providing open market housing, including affordable units, and that future occupants would support local businesses, but added: "I find that the moderate benefits associated with the appeal scheme would not outweigh the harm to the AONB as identified above and to which I attach great weight."

The appeal decision has been welcomed by the chairman of Cornwall CPRE, an independent charity that sets out to protect rural Cornwall, which offered supporting to residents of Mullion.

Richard Stubbs said: “The proposed development on sloping land in open countryside would have had a detrimental, urbanising effect on the character and appearance of this sensitive landscape. This is a significant victory which will preserve the unique qualities of this beautiful spot within the Cornwall AONB for future generations.”