EACH week, hundreds of planning applications come before Cornwall Council’s planning department, seeking to win approval for various plans right across the Duchy, with some concerning Holsworthy handled by Torridge District Council.

These plans can comprise of a number of different reasonings – ranging from permission to replace windows or listed building consent ranging up to large house building developments or changing of use of a building, for instance, from an office to a café, or flats.

Within this large and often complex system, there are a number of formats from which planning advice and approval can be sought.

These range from full applications where all the details which comprise a proposed development or work to a building are submitted, to outline applications, where further details are yet to be confirmed, for example, an outline application with reserved matters for appearance may not confirm the final proposed development but rather seek permission in principle.

An example of this is one for an outline permission for 20 dwellings on land with reserved matters for appearance and scale; the reserved matters would require further permission later for their inclusion.

Other types of applications include pre-application advice requests, where would-be developers submit often outline proposals to a local authority to ascertain whether it is likely to gain support or not prior to submitting a planning application.

The vast majority of applications are decided by planning officers employed by a local authority under ‘delegated powers’, meaning they do so on behalf of their employer, however, some applications are ‘called in’ by local councillors to be discussed at an area’s strategic planning committee meeting, meaning the final decision rests with a committee of councillors.

THE conversion of an existing agricultural dwelling into a one bedroom residential self build dwelling on land near Tintagel has been refused by Cornwall Council.

Mr Avian Sandercock submitted a planning application to the authority seeking permission to convert the building on land at north west of Old Chapel House, Trenale Lane, Tintagel.

The applicant’s planning agent told Cornwall Council: “The proposals are for the conversion of an existing agricultural outbuilding, into a one-bedroom residential building. The building is currently sat in need of massive repair and has been on the site since 1947. The site currently has two access points off Trenale Lane, at each end of the field on the South West boundary. The proposals look to keep an agricultural aesthetic to the building with dark timber cladding. The site benefits from natural screening from the existing hedgerow all along the South West boundary.

“The design of the proposal is to keep an agricultural feel to the building, cladding it with dark timber cladding. The proposal will keep the mono-pitch aspect to the roof to remain in keeping with the existing structures roof, trying to retain the feel of the existing building.

“The building is proposed to be a one-bedroom dwelling, with a bathroom and open plan kitchen/dining living room. The roof is proposed to extend over the south west elevation, to create a sheltered outdoor seating area off of the living area. The proposals would create no overlooking issues, due to it being single storey and its secluded location.

“The proposed conversion would see a failing building, brought back with a new lease of life, improving the visual aspect of the surrounding area, while retaining an agricultural aesthetic, being created on the same footprint as the existing building. It is also in line with new Planning Policies, where the demand for new housing which is not being currently met in Cornwall has nearly doubled.”

Tintagel Parish Council objected to the proposals, stating: “The council feels strongly that the land in question should be kept as agricultural land and therefore this development is not justified.

“There is concern that this could also lead to further development of the agricultural area.”

Cornwall National Landscape also objected, stating: “This proposed conversion fails to address the policy requirements for such development and will give rise to a harmful domestication of this part of the agricultural setting of Trenale within the designated landscape and as such neither "conserves" or "enhances" the designated landscape and we object to it on this basis.”

Refusing the application, Cornwall Council told the applicant: “The design, appearance and size of the existing structure is such that it is not considered a suitably constructed rural building that would be appropriate to retain for conversion to a residential use. The proposal, by reasons of extending the built form and residential character of Trenale into the countryside and including curtilage of substantial scale would harm the natural and distinctive beauty of the immediate setting and Cornwall National Landscape.

“It would create a dwelling in a location with poor accessibility to necessary daily services and facilities which would perpetuate over reliance on the private vehicle and unsustainable traffic movements. In the absence of any special circumstances to justify this proposal, the application is not sustainable development”

A PLANNING application proposing the retention of two roof lights to the rear of a listed property in Canworthy Water has been submitted to Cornwall Council.

The application, submitted by Mr Jason Chambers, concerns Fonson Cottage Canworthy Water Launceston.

In documents submitted as part of the application, it was stated: “The property is a Grade II listed cottage located between Canworthy Water and Warbstow.

“It retains a significant degree of its historic character and fabric. The roof is covered in slate tiles and there are currently no rooflights on the slope. The building lies within a rural setting.

“The proposal involves the insertion of two conservation-style rooflight to the rear roof pitch. These are designed to sit flush with the roof plane and replicate traditional roof light proportions.

“The roof windows will be genuine conservation rooflights, with slimline, black metal frames and a central glazing bar to replicate traditional cast iron rooflight forms.”

The application can be viewed using reference PA25/05317.

PRE-APPLICATION advice for proposals that could see the demolition of a ‘structurally unsafe’ Parish Hall to be replaced with a detached dwelling has been requested to Cornwall Council.

Outline planning permission for the replacement of Poundstock Parish Hall, which has been structurally condemned, with two dwellings was approved in 2022, but it has since been felt that the land which the site sits on could not accommodate it, leading to the proposals for one dwelling only.

The former parish hall was sold at auction for redevelopment in August 2023 as its location and plot size no longer met parish needs.

PERMISSION for the replacement of an existing lightweight metal garage in the rear garden with a masonry-built structure and the erection of a five metre planetarium in the rear garden for a property in Launceston has been approved.

The application concerned the property of Mr Scott Tucker located at 42 Dunheved Road, Launceston.

It was approved without any additional conditions by the planning authority.