REPRESENTATIVES of a town council and a local Cornwall Council member who all oppose an affordable housing development did not turn up to a planning committee meeting to give their reasons for objecting to the annoyance of some councillors.

A permission in principle bid (an application which doesn’t contain full technical details) to build nine affordable homes on land off Sandy Lane in Redruth was called to Cornwall Council’s west area committee by Cllr Connor Donnithorne, who has previously stated: “I cannot support development in this area given that it would have an impact on existing highways and would open this currently undeveloped part of town.”

Redruth Town Council, which has similar concerns, had unanimously agreed not to support the application on the grounds that the proposals are not in accordance with the emerging Redruth Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Despite their opposition, neither a town councillor nor Cllr Donnithorne were present to explain why they were against the application. Cllr Dave Crabtree wanted the absences noted, “bearing in mind that they wanted this case bringing to committee”.

Paul Bateman, principal consultant with Influence Planning representing the applicant, said the site was in a sustainable location with with good public transport links directly opposite. He stressed a nearby development was approved on appeal by a planning inspector; it had been previously opposed by the town council and local member.

He was asked how much of the development would actually be affordable. “The start point is 100 per cent and if we can get a suitable development partner on board where public funds will support the provision of 100 per cent affordable then that’s certainly something that will be explored,” Mr Bateman replied. “We have development partners we encourage to get involved in schemes. We’ve recently done a 100 per cent affordable scheme in Veryan.”

A concerned Cllr Loveday Jenkin said: “We’ve seen other places where an applicant has got permission in principle for something that is promising affordable homes and then come back with something completely different, and that’s allowed because understanding that something can be built there has already been approved by the permission in principle.”

She was told it was bound by the permission in principle description as an affordable-led scheme. Planning officer Mark Broomhead added: “The government has made it clear we can’t put conditions on permissions in principle unless they’re granted. You will have the chance to debate that at the technical details stage if the application comes to committee.”

Cllr Jenkin was also concerned about access to the site and the impact of more traffic on the A393 at Sandy Lane. She was told that wasn’t an issue to be considered at the permission in principle stage.

Cllr Thalia Marrington said in terms of the development being on “not good” agricultural land, the houses being near public transport links and the promise they would be affordable meant it should be approved.

Some councillors aired concerns there weren’t more details for them to discuss and were critical of permission in principle applications, but felt they had to recommend approval. The committee voted unanimously in favour.