Concerns over plans to build new homes in south east Cornwall village
There are fears about road safety and the impact on local services
Multiple concerns have been raised over plans to build an affordable-led housing development in a South East Cornwall village.
A developer is seeking outline planning permission to build up to 24 homes on land next to Dobwalls Primary School.
The homes, which would be a mix of two-storey and two-and-a-half storey buildings, would all be affordable.
Cornwall Council’s east sub-area planning committee is due to consider the application when it meets on Monday (September 14th).
Planning officers have suggested that the plans should be approved but only if a legal agreement is reached regarding the amount of affordable housing and a contribution for Dobwalls Primary School.
The application has attracted a number of objections from local residents, the parish council and local Cornwall councillor Jane Pascoe.
Dobwalls and Trewidland Parish Council has raised concerns about road safety, the impact on local services, that the village has already had a number of developments and that the plans go against the emerging neighbourhood development plan.
The parish council says that it would place more pressure on the primary school and other services stating: “There are no places available at Dobwalls School, local children are being taken by taxi to Liskeard schools and other towns because there is no vacancy for them. The School is landlocked and there is no scope for it to expand its classroom facility or put in a car park. Health facilities are dire for the area. There is a two-year waiting list for a dentist and residents are currently experiencing a 4-5 week wait for a doctor’s appointment.”
It said that the village has also seen around 250 homes built in recent years and has fulfilled its planning obligations up to 2030.
The council states: “The parish council believes that no further development is required to provide affordable housing in the parish, it has more than met its targets in recent years and any further sites in Dobwalls village would not be sustainable with the present infrastructure.”
And it adds that in the emerging neighbourhood development plan the application site is earmarked as a green space and not for future development.
The parish council is also concerned that if approved it would set a precedent with other fields around the village likely to be developed.
The planning committee will meet on Monday to decide the application.