A decision by a government planning inspector to overturn the refusal of 50 homes being built in St Austell has been described as “a sad day for democracy”.

The proposal to build the houses on five acres of land between Aspen Drive and Boscoppa Road on the eastern edge of the town was originally thrown out by a planning committee last June.

Cornwall Council’s central area planning committee voted unanimously to refuse the application on the grounds of loss of versatile farming land and harm caused to the distinctive character of the area, as well as the loss of a green buffer zone between St Austell town and Carlyon Bay parish.

The application – by agent AJC Architecture on behalf of applicant Ruth Allen – was an unpopular one in the St Austell area, which at the time of the meeting had a housing need for 940 people. The town council had objected to the plan as had around 70 residents who commented on Cornwall Council’s planning portal.

Despite the committee’s decision, planning inspector Alison Fish – who visited the site in November – has now given the go-ahead for the 50 houses to be built on  what she agrees is Grade 3a “best and most versatile” agricultural land.

Her report states: “Weighed against the harm is the need to significantly boost the supply of homes. The appeal proposal is for up to 50 dwellings and this would go some way towards boosting the supply of housing (including the provision of affordable homes) at a time when the current supply position is well below Government expectations. There would also be economic benefits arising from the construction and occupation of the dwellings. I have given these benefits significant weight.”

Jordan Rowse – who represents Bethel and Holmbush and is vice-chairman of Cornwall Council – has long fought the application on behalf of concerned residents in his division. He says he is “hugely disappointed by this result and frustrated by the process”.

“How can it be that a planning inspector from Bristol can overturn a unanimous decision by Cornwall Council’s democratically elected planning committee?” asked the councillor.

“Firstly, I’m not for one minute being a nimby here. We need housing in Cornwall and we need housing in St Austell, but I am completely and utterly against inappropriate housing developments in the wrong place and without the right infrastructure.

“Most significantly, this field was the last farmed field within the boundary of St Austell town. Once it is lost, it’s lost forever. A huge amount of history here and a site that meant a lot to a lot of people. Our farmers have been shafted enough as it is, without now having land sold off from under their feet.”

Cllr Rowse added: “Local residents and I worked so closely to fight this application. We fought against it on planning reasons and in many ways succeeded. We got St Austell Town Council to refuse the application, then got Cornwall Council to unanimously refuse the application.

“However, clearly that is no longer enough and a government department knows better than local residents and elected representatives. The application itself received circa 70 objections from concerned local residents.

“The current Government has given the inspector a hall pass to approve housing anywhere and everywhere without consideration of the consequences.”

The Conservative councillor was critical of St Austell’s Labour MP Noah Law. “What’s worse, in my view, is that we have had absolutely no support from the new local MP despite requests to get involved. Cornish MPs of different political persuasions over the years have always stood firm against the planning inspectorate on important applications.

“As an MP you are in a unique position to speak to the Housing Minister, ask parliamentary questions or raise concerns in Parliament. Despite requests, this didn’t happen. The silence has been deafening. We need strong voices standing up for our town, at every level.”

Cllr Rowse told us: “It’s now more important than ever that big decisions like these are made in Cornwall. The Government must take stock and listen, especially with the increased new housing targets coming down the track. We, in Cornwall, should decide where housing goes.”

James Mustoe, the Conservative councillor for neighbouring Mevagissey and St Austell Bay division, is also upset by the appeal decision, calling it “a sad day for democracy”.

“I spoke at committee at last year and argued, successfully at the time, that this application was not needed, as it would see prime agricultural land concreted over, would cause increased run-off and flooding in nearby Tregrehan Mills, and that this part of St Austell is totally overdeveloped already, with hundreds of houses recently built at Gwallon Keas at the bottom of the hill, and hundreds more currently being built in the eco village at the top of the hill.

“Unfortunately I think that with the new mandatory housing targets being imposed on us and the central directive to ‘build, build, build’ that this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Noah Law MP responded to Cllr Rowse’s comments, which he described as a “silly political point-scoring exercise from a councillor who full well knows MPs do not get involved in planning disputes apart from in exceptional circumstances and to ensure that the integrity of the process is upheld”. He wished Cllr Rowse “every success in his recently launched election campaign” to stand again for Cornwall Council.

Mr Law said: “Although I recognise the strength of feeling locally, very few people contacted me directly about this, in contrast to other planning applications.”