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.

PROPOSALS for 30 homes on land currently set as agricultural between Bude and Poughill has been submitted to Cornwall Council.

Trewin Design Architects have submitted an outline planning application on behalf of Tamar Land and Property Company to build the homes on land adjoining Poughill Road, Bude.

An outline planning application seeks to gain permission for the construction of building homes on the land, with a further application to be made at a later date for ‘reserved matters’ – that is, planning permission for anything which had not been part of the initial outline planning application if it is granted. This often includes items such as design and appearance of the properties, scale and massing and the types of properties which would be constructed.

A reserved matters application would therefore, if planning is approved need to additionally be approved prior to building taking place.

In the application, the agent said: “The site is located on the eastern side of Bude and the southwestern side of Poughill, on land adjoining Poughill Road. The overall site covers an area of approximately 3.17 hectares and falls within the administrative boundary of Cornwall Council.

“The sites’ location is shown edged red on the location plan submitted with the application. The site has a sloping gradient, with levels increasing gradually in a north easterly direction, and is bounded by agricultural land to the north, east and south with a recently completed housing development to the west.

“The site is identified by the Environment Agency’s flood risk map as located within Flood Risk Zone 1, being the lowest risk of flooding by rivers or the sea and therefore, not at any direct risk of flooding, consequently the proposed development is entirely appropriate. in this area.

“On completion, the development will provide high quality living accommodation, complementing its setting and contributing to the success of the local area, with the idea of creating a sense of community and space with privacy, security and wellbeing of the occupiers taken into consideration.

“Our analysis of the urban context and location of the site along with the form of the surrounding area leads us to believe that the site is capable of accommodating the proposal, without it being detrimental to the existing landscape.

“To make the most of our environment we need to be providing high quality and energy-efficient homes, enabling a sense of place and pride in both the natural environment and the built environment whilst encouraging respect for the landscape.”

A masonic hall in Callington could become housing if a full planning application is submitted.

Loyal Victoria Lodge has submitted a pre-application advice enquiry to Cornwall Council seeking its advice on proposals to convert the building at 12 Tavistock Road, Callington into four two-bedroom flats.

JL Planning, the agents for the applicant said: “this pre-application offers to reuse the building to provide 4 new homes in a sustainable location. This would allow the Lodge to be relocated to a newer, more thermally efficient building. The intention here is not to lose the Lodge but to find a more suitable and sustainable building in the local area. The purpose of this pre-application is to seek the Council’s advice and to engage proactively with the authority. The aim being to submit a planning application which can be supported by officers.

“The pre-application seeks advice for the conversion of the hall into 4 x 2 bed flats. Details of the proposed development have been set out in the accompanying existing and proposed plans. In summary all the flats would comply with the national space standards. Minimal alterations are required to the building to facilitate the development, and this proposal maintains the building’s character and appearance.”

The proposal was summarised as: “The site of this proposal is the Masonic Hall on Tavistock Road in Callington. The hall is a large, imposing building that is set back from the roadside. The hall is surrounded by residential properties on all sides, bar the public highway to the north/north-west. The submitted covering letter identifies that the hall is a former chapel with the ground floor having had multiple informal uses in its history, with the current use of the ground floor being a second hand furniture shop.

“The covering letter states that the hall is expensive for the organisation to run due to its age and size. The Lodge aim to move to a newer and more thermally efficient hall within the local area. The Lodge are exploring the possibility of converting the hall into four 2-bedroom flats. There would be minimal alterations required to the building.”

In its reply to the applicant, Cornwall Council’s planning department said that changing the property to dwellings could be supported.

It, did however, advise that parking and highways might be a challenge, saying: “The issue of traffic generation from a new residential development would need to be considered. If you intend to progress the proposal with the submission of a formal planning application, in addition to indicating within the redline site plan area the means of access to the public highway, you would need to annotate the plans submitted to show space allocated for turning and parking, and to show that adequate visibility splays could be achieved from any new access point.

“An assessment of this aspect would be made at the time of the application. The details of surfacing and drainage of such areas should also be provided to accompany any application submitted.”

They concluded: “To conclude, the principle of this development is acceptable. The site is within the settlement of Callington, suitably reuses an existing building and has sustainable access to services and facilities. The submitted plans appear to show adequate internal space for four flats and there are minimal external alterations required. The scheme could gain officer support at full planning application stage.”

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