Sixty-year old planning permission has been resurrected to allow, in principle, the building of another property just outside of the conservation area in Helston.

Mr and Mrs Graham Matthews had applied to Cornwall Council for ‘permission in principle’ to build in the garden next to the bungalow Mebyon Kernow in Oliver’s Terrace, off Meneage Street.

Similar to outline planning permission, this looks at whether a site is suitable for building on in principle, before a further application must be made for the detailed proposals of any development.

In granting such permission, an officer of Cornwall Council warned: “There can be no guarantee that, just because permission in principle has been granted, the technical details consent will follow.”

The area over which access will be taken (Image: John Cook Planning Services/Cornwall Council) The new property, expected to most likely be a dormer bungalow, would be built in what is described as “the large garden of a detached 1960s bungalow” known as Mebyon Kernow, in Oliver’s Terrace.

Access to the area is via a ramp from Meneage Street, with the development site next to the scout hut in Coronation Gardens.

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In 1965 outline planning permission was granted for two properties on the land, but only one was built.

The recent application was to assess the continued suitability of the land for such a use, as well as its location and the amount of development, taking into account changes in the environment and planning policies since then.

The garden of the 'host' bungalow (Image: John Cook Planning Services/Cornwall Council) In plans accompanying the application, John Cook Planning Services states that access to the new property would be through an area currently retained by concrete block walls, crossing onto the existing ‘host dwelling’ access and shared area, while avoiding the neighbouring garage frontage.

Although there is no suggested design or layout of the proposed new property yet, it is expected to be “a single dwelling, probably a dormer bungalow, of broadly rectangular footprint.”

The side facing the existing bungalow on the site would either be without windows, or would contain windows with restricted opening and obscured glazing.

The land is neighbouring Helston's scout hut (Image: John Cook Planning Services/Cornwall Council) The documents go on to state: “Access can be achieved without harm to neighbouring occupiers and without creating dangerous traffic conditions.

“An electric vehicle charging point can be provided as part of the development thus contributing towards achieving low carbon society.

“The dwelling proposed will provide a home in a sustainable location in a manner such that there are no adverse impacts upon the amenities of neighbouring dwellings.

“Consideration of neighbouring dwellings in the immediate surroundings indicates that development can be undertaken achieving acceptable levels of amenity, including privacy.”

In their report granting permission in principle, the Cornwall Council officer wrote: “Subject to consideration of an appropriately designed scheme being submitted at the technical details consent stage, there is no reason why the development of this land could not preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the nearby conservation area.

“This takes into consideration the site's immediate setting and presence of adjacent modern housing development and buildings located outside of this designation.”

Access onto the site in Oliver's Terrace (Image: John Cook Planning Services/Cornwall Council) They said that matters such as living conditions for future occupants and existing residents would be addressed at the next stage of the planning process, the application for ‘technical details consent’.

However, “careful siting and scale” of the new property, together with its positioning, could “safeguard neighbouring residents from any adverse overlooking and overbearing impacts.”

The officer went on to say that access and highway safety matters were also considered at the technical details consent stage.

They noted that the short section of existing road had “clear visibility in both directions and could suitably accommodate a minimal uplift in movements associated with a single dwelling”. The officer did, however, stress that the “limited information provided with the application” matched the fact it was only permission in principle.

“The highways and amenity related impacts in particular are more appropriately determined as part of the technical details consent stage, and there can be no guarantee that just because permission in principle has been granted, that the technical details consent will follow.

“It takes approval of both stages for a planning permission to be secured,” they added.

The approved application at this stage can be viewed on Cornwall Council’s planning portal via its website, under reference PA24/06114.