EACH week, hundreds of planning applications come before Cornwall Council’s planning department, seeking to win approval for various plans right across the Duchy, with some concerning Holsworthy handled by Torridge District Council.

These plans can comprise of a number of different reasonings– ranging from permission to replace windows or listed building consent ranging up to large house building developments or changing of use of a building, for instance, from an office to a café, or flats.

Within this large and often complex system, there are a number of formats from which planning advice and approval can be sought.

These range from full applications where all the details which comprise a proposed development or work to a building are submitted, to outline applications, where further details are yet to be confirmed, for example, an outline application with reserved matters for appearance may not confirm the final proposed development but rather seek permission in principle.

An example of this is one for an outline permission for 20 dwellings on land with reserved matters for appearance and scale; the reserved matters would require further permission later for their inclusion.

Other types of applications include pre-application advice requests, where would-be developers submit often outline proposals to a local authority to ascertain whether it is likely to gain support or not prior to submitting a planning application.

The vast majority of applications are decided by planning officers employed by a local authority under ‘delegated powers’, meaning they do so on behalf of their employer, however, some applications are ‘called in’ by local councillors to be discussed at an area’s strategic planning committee meeting, meaning the final decision rests with a committee of councillors.

PA24/02211: Plans for the use of land for the siting of 34 holiday lodges (technically static caravans as defined under the 1960 Caravans Act) and associated decking, infrastructure and landscaping, in place of permanently sited accommodation pods and statics for sale on land near Bude has been submitted to the local authority.

The application, concerning Pentire Coastal Holiday Park Stibb Road Stibb Bude was made by Park Holidays UK Ltd.

In their planning application, they stated: “The Applicant, Park Holidays UK Limited (PHUK), has commissioned Laister Planning Limited (LPL) to produce this Planning Statement to accompany the planning application for: 'use of land for the siting of 34 holiday lodges (technically static caravans as defined under the 1960 Caravans Act) and associated decking, infrastructure and landscaping, in place of permanently-sited accommodation pods and statics for sale', at Pentire Coastal Holiday Park. The proposal will enable the holiday park to provide accommodation that more closely meets their customers’ expectations, as well as the significantly increased demand post-Covid, for staying in self-catering holiday accommodation. It will also enable the owner (that has recently acquired the holiday park) to continue to operate, and help fund other environmental upgrades and improvements within the site.

“The application site already benefits from extant planning permission for 100 'camping pods' and up to 6 static caravans for sales purposes, as part of a larger development scheme applicable to the wider park (pursuant to Planning Permission Ref. PA18/06618 dated 6 December 2018) that has been partially implemented. These pods/statics would be replaced in their entirety through the significantly reduced number of holiday units currently proposed, resulting also in a reduced area of land-take for development that would be utilised instead for drainage, landscape and biodiversity gain purposes.

“A draft version of our current proposal was subject to a formal pre-application enquiry made to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) in mid-2023, which it provided helpful, and broadly positive, written feedback back on. The Applicant also discussed the proposal with the Parish Council, that was also constructive and positive.

“It is the Applicant’s view that the use of the land for holiday statics/lodges would be acceptable in planning, environmental and landscape terms, given that it would utilise areas within which permanently-sited accommodation units can already be sited (to a comparatively higher density), allowing for a reduction in the number of units and also the introduction of a landscaping scheme to ensure that the site integrates better within the wider landscape.”

LOCAL councillors have supported a woman’s request to convert an unused stable block into a new home, writes Kerenza Moore.

Nicola Bull hopes to gain planning approval on land that she owns at Higher Downgate, near Callington.

Mrs Bull, who currently lives in Kelly Bray, says that she makes multiple journeys a day to tend to her horse and to support her elderly parents, who live within short walking distance of the site. She says that there is nothing suitable or affordable on the property market nearby.

The proposal has divided opinion among local people who have commented.

Some are concerned about the increase in traffic on narrow roads that any new development might bring. Two nearby residents have raised objections on the grounds that there is “already surface water run-off from the bridleway next to the field in question” and so they have concerns about the possibility of flooding.

But several other residents – including two who live right next to the paddock – say they fully support the proposal. These neighbours make the point that if the applicant were to be living on site, there would be fewer car journeys to and fro, rather than more.

Under normal circumstances, Cornwall Council’s planning officers might be minded to refuse permission for such a plan: a new house beyond the development boundary of a village would usually not be allowed.

But Cornwall Councillor for Stoke Climsland Adrian Parsons points out that the building stands close to the boundary of Downgate on land that was once part of a garden.

He says that converting the stable block would conform to policies in Cornwall’s Local Plan on “re-use of suitably constructed buildings in the countryside” and on providing housing to sustain communities.

“The building in question has been in situ for over 10 years and (the project) would lead to an enhancement of the immediate setting,” said Cllr Parsons.

“Most importantly it provides a valuable contribution to housing delivery, particularly considering the declared housing crisis in Cornwall.”

With Stoke Climsland Parish Council having voted unanimously to support the application, Cllr Parsons has said he will “call it in” to be decided by planning committee.

PA22/04845: Planning application for conversion, involving extensions and alterations, of former clay drier to 33 residential homes and five live work units, construction of a site house/reception office, toilet block, bin store buildings and bat house' with variation of condition 16 of decision E1/2010/00454 dated 28/06/2012, has been withdrawn.

The application for the amended plans was submitted on behalf of Mr J Scott and concerned the location of the Wenford Driers St Breward Bodmin.

Prior to its withdrawal, the plans had received objections.

The requested amendment was concerning the discharge of sewage from the proposed properties, of which commencement of construction was not permitted until a plan was in place.

The condition seeking variation was: “No development approved by this permission shall be commenced until full details of a scheme for the provision of foul water drainage from the site has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Such details shall be designed to ensure that no phosphates enter the adjoining river system.”

With the reasons given for the change being: “Due to a change in circumstance in regard to phosphates within the River Camel and its catchment area the applicant now wishes to amend the discharged foul drainage layout to show connection to the main sewer, rather than package treatment plant, as previously agreed. The applicant has discussed connecting to the main sewer with South West Water.”