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.

THE proposed conversion of a three-storey, four-bed dwelling into three residential units at a property in Bude has been approved by Cornwall Council.

Mr R Stewart applied to the local authority for permission to convert the property at 20 Kimmings, on Stratton Road, Bude into three separate units.

The applicant said of the site: “The building which is the subject of this report is located within the Town of Bude, to the west of the secondary school – Bude Haven. The wider area consists of a number of flats arranged within three other buildings on the site. A large communal garden is located to the northwest of the subject building.

“The property is understood to have been constructed around the early 1990’s, assumingly with the intention of being arranged as three separate units of accommodation. It is further understood the building has been arranged as one dwelling, known as 20 Kimmings for a number of years.

“The building is of brick construction to all exterior walls with brown timber windows and hipped roof covered in slate. The building is accessed through a personnel door on the south façade which provides access to a communal staircase. The ground floor of the building is currently laid out as storage and workshop area.

“The first floor provides a bedroom, kitchen and Livingroom and the second floor is laid out with 3 additional bedrooms, bathroom and ensuite. The upper ‘viewing’ floor is accessed at the head of the stair. The site collectively is accessed from the main highway known as Stratton Road and is within easy reach of the Town on foot. The grouping of buildings is not listed, and the site lies outside of the Bude / Stratton conservation areas.”

Cornwall Council approved the application, subject to an additional condition, namely: “Prior to the first occupation of the dwellings hereby approved, a scheme for the incorporation of bat boxes and bird boxes and bee bricks at a minimum rate of one measure per dwelling shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

“Such details shall include the location and specific details of each feature. The approved features shall be installed prior to the occupation of the dwelling(s) to which they relate and shall thereafter be retained and maintained as such.”

The application can be viewed on the Cornwall Council planning portal under reference PA24/07025.

THE Environment Agency has maintained its opposition to the proposed development of 540 homes near Bodmin.

Wainhomes is seeking permission to build on land known locally as Halgavor Moor, a proposal which has been met with outrage in the community.

Save Halgavor Moor is campaigning to see the application refused as it views the land as being on a flood plain with the plans detrimental, in their view, to the ecology and the habitat on the land.

The Environment Agency responded to the latest consultation by Cornwall Council by stating: “We maintain our objection to this proposal at this stage due to concerns about the impact of the development on the watercourses within the site and some statements within the Flood Risk Assessment (FRA).

“We request to see details of the bridges/culverts which are proposed where access roads cross the watercourses, together with robust justification for any culverts proposed. Additionally, the FRA will need to be updated to reflect the points set out in the FRA section below relating to the watercourse buffer strips and ditches/watercourses.”

It set out reasons for its objection, one of which concerned ‘culverting’.

In this objection the Environment Agency said: ‘We are opposed to the culverting of any watercourse because of the adverse ecological, flood risk and geomorphological impacts of this. Watercourses are important linear features of the landscape and should be maintained as continuous corridors to maximise their benefits to society.

“We consider that any watercourse crossings should be open span bridge structures which have sufficient capacity to pass flood flows, enable access for maintenance and clearing of blockages, as well as incorporating biodiversity elements/improvements.

“If any culverts are considered necessary, the applicant should demonstrate why this is necessary and the only reasonable and practicable alternative. Where it has been robustly demonstrated that the culverting is both necessary and the only reasonably practicable alternative, the length of any culvert should be restricted to the minimum necessary to meet access objectives.

“The applicant should provide appropriate assessments to demonstrate that culverting will not increase flood risk elsewhere and will not result in an unacceptable impact on channel stability and the habitats and species present. They should demonstrate that mitigation and compensation measures will be put in place to reduce or nullify any impacts.

“When designing the culvert, the applicant should take into account of the predicted impacts of climate change (using an allowance for climate change), natural channel geomorphology and any future development planned in the catchment. All mitigation measures should be incorporated within the design and the work should be carried out using best working practice to minimise environmental impacts.”

It also stated it had concerns over the flood risk assessment, adding: “We have reviewed the updated FRA by AWP. We consider that this document is broadly acceptable, however there are a couple of points we would like to see addressed before the application is determined. This will give the developers more certainty about what will be acceptable in the detailed design.”

Wainhomes have been contacted for comment on the Environment Agency’s concerns.

The plans can be viewed on the Cornwall Council planning portal under reference PA20/10618.

Proposals for a new driveway which the applicants say will help reduce cars from the congested road has been approved by Cornwall Council.

The application concerns the address 6 Trecarrell, Launceston.

Launceston Town Council said it supported the application, with two members of the public also stating their support.

Keep up to date with the latest planning applications and other statutory notices (such as alcohol licensing and probates) that affect where you live by visiting our online Public Notice Portal – be the first to know by visiting www.publicnoticeportal.uk/cornish-and-devon-post-series