A 100 per cent affordable homes development is proposed for a parish in Cornwall which has a “high level of housing need”. However, people in the area are opposed to the plans despite 83 households seeking affordable homes in the parish.

If approved, 36 homes would be built for housing association Coastline on land at St Erme, near Truro. Cornwall Council’s planning department has recommended the matter should be approved by the chief planning officer, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement securing the affordable housing in perpetuity.

However, local councillor Karen Glasson has brought the application before the planning committee. “I would, of course, welcome more affordable homes and this application by a housing association is very important,” she said. “However, the impact to local infrastructure and services and capacity of the school must be considered in greater detail.”

A planning report confirms “a high level of housing need within the parish, to which this development would make significant contribution”.

St Erme Parish Council has objected citing its Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) policy that an exception site for local affordable housing “should be located to the south of the village settlement”. The council argues the proposed site is to the east and will extend the built environment into the open countryside.

“The applicant/landowner does own fields to the south of the village where the proposals would fit better within our NDP and the St Erme Local Landscape Character Assessment. This was pointed out by the council to the applicant at the time of consultation,” said the parish.

The council is also concerned about the visual impact on nearby Tregear monument and Grade II listed St Hermes Church. The issue of flooding on neighbouring Tregassow Lane and road safety fears have also been raised.

Parish councillors added that if the development is approved it would leave St Erme with Trispen CP School landlocked and unable to expand in the future, claiming: “The school currently cannot expand further on its current footprint.”

The proposal has had a mixed reaction online with comments both for and against. “Other proposed developments in the village have not offered this kind of opportunity with all of the properties being affordable,” James Arnold wrote on Cornwall Council’s planning portal. “I believe it is right that our village does its bit and takes some of the new house burden to support young local people onto the ladder. I therefore support this development unlike others before it.”

“The site is outside the village area, adjoins a narrow lane which is used by walkers and dog walkers (when it is not flooded), and would be needed by the school to expand to accommodate the increased number of children,” said Sylvia Arnold.

“The increase of traffic past the school would be dangerous for the children/parents at the school and for properties on School Lane.

“There have already been three developments around the village and another proposed on the outskirts which can have better vehicular access and includes ‘affordable’ housing.”

The application is due to be decided at a strategic planning committee meeting on Thursday.