PEOPLE opposed to plans to build a housing development in Rosudgeon believe it will lead to the “unnecessary destruction” of a rural part of the county’s World Heritage Site.

Cornwall Council’s planning department also recognises that the proposal would harm the character of the area near Penzance but believes the need for housing outweighs any concerns.

Applicants Barbara Cole, Barry Curnow and Michael Curnow are seeking outline planning permission with all matters reserved except for access for an affordable-led housing scheme of up to nine dwellings on land north of Red Lane House, Red Lane in Rosudgeon.

The matter will be discussed at a meeting of Cornwall Council’s west area planning committee on Monday, December 9, after it was called in by local member Cllr John Martin. He believes that the proposed development would cause “considerable harm to the rural setting of Red Lane, changing the character of the lane in a detrimental way for residents living there and leisure users of the lane, as recognised by previous decisions”.

A planning officer’s report notes: “The proposed development would harm the character and appearance of Red Lane, most notably by accelerating the change in the previously gradual development of the area. Furthermore, it would harm the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the World Heritage Site (WHS) by overwriting fields which were historically part of a mineworkers’ smallholding.

“In this case, the proposal would deliver much-needed affordable housing in an area with historic low delivery, which carries great weight, particularly in view of the housing crisis. Furthermore, it is considered that any harm to the character of the area could reasonably be mitigated by retained and new soft landscaping, including the creation of a new hedgerow in the northern field parcel which would restore the historic smallholding field boundaries, in turn mitigating the extent of harm.”

The case officer has recommended that delegated authority be given to the chief planning officer to approve the application, subject to conditions.

Outline planning permission was refused in 2017 for five houses on the application site due to the reasons cited by opponents now. An appeal was also unsuccessful with a planning inspector agreeing it would have a detrimental impact and “irrevocably” change the character of the immediate area.

Perranuthnoe Parish Council has objected to the application on various grounds, including members’ views that it “would have considerable harm on the rural setting of Red Lane. Development in open fields would change the character of the lane in a detrimental way for residents living there and leisure users of the lane. Previous refusals have all recognised this key issue”.

The parish council also noted the number of strong local objections, with no supporting comments, to the application. “It is clear that this cherished lane should be protected from open field development,” added the council.

There are over 40 comments on Cornwall Council’s planning portal opposing the development. Alex Ruston wrote: “This is a large development, not at all in keeping with the area, this is a rural area and Red Lane is narrow, unlit and entirely unsuitable for the increased traffic that this development will cause, both in construction and in use.

“This is unnecessary destruction of rural land and the wildlife habitats it provides. This will put more unnecessary pressure on local services, and there are plenty of houses in development in much more suitable areas around Penzance.”