Plans to build hundreds of homes on outskirts of Wadebridge refused permission
30% would have been affordable housing
Cornwall Council has rejected plans to build up to 245 homes, including affordable housing, on the outskirts of Wadebridge.
The outline planning application from Wyndthorpe Estates to build the homes on land at Bodieve went before the council’s strategic planning committee this morning.
As well as the new homes, including 30% affordable, the plans included a new relief road and public open space.
Planning officers had recommended refusal as the proposals would have meant building in the open countryside, against council policy, and also that the site was not included in a site allocations document for where housing should be built.
In their report to the committee officers also highlighted that the current housing need set by current targets was expected to be met in Wadebridge.
Planning officer Gemma Dunn told the committee meeting that the proposals could not be considered to be “rounding off” the hamlet of Bodieve as they would represent a major expansion of the area.
Wadebridge town councillor Amanda Pennington told the committee that the town council was “firmly opposed” to the plans.
She said that while there was no neighbourhood development plan in place and that progress had stalled on drawing one up there had been indications that local people did not want the future development of Wadebridge to be around the Bodieve area.
Cllr Pennington said that it was considered that the bypass should be the development boundary for future developments in the town.
However Egloshayle Parish Council supported the application with Nigel Davey saying that it would help to provide affordable homes for the area.
Cllr Davey said there was a “fine balance” between protecting the countryside and meeting the housing needs.
He said that it might mean “sacrificing the countryside to meet the greater good”.
David Clark from applicants Wyndthorpe Estates said that the development would help provide affordable homes needed in Wadebridge.
He said that 74 affordable homes would be provided as part of the development and that the new relief road would improve safety for children accessing Wadebridge School.
He said: “A refusal of our application will result in families being unable to access housing and children being less safe. We feel our plans will improve the lives of residents of Wadebridge and Egloshayle.”
Committee member Andrew Long proposed that the plans be refused as recommended by planning officers.
He said: “Looking at all the documentation this is, to my mind, has become more clear cut as the debate has gone on.”
Cllr Long said that the application would go against several policies in the Cornwall Local Plan including the development of open countryside.
The committee voted unanimously in favour of refusing planning permission.