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.

AN EXTENSION to a cemetery adjoining a church on Bodmin Moor is being sought by the church council responsible for its operation.

The Blisland with Temple Parochial Church Council is seeking permission to convert a plot of agricultural land measuring 578 square metres into an extension to its cemetery at the St Protus and St Hyacinth church in Blisland.

In a representation to Cornwall Council, the parochial church council is seeking an exemption to ‘biodiversity net gain’ regulations by detailing how the proposed extension to the cemetery would operate.

In a statement to the local planning authority, the council stated: “The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is of the view that this Application is for a change of use with no ‘operational development’ and that it does not represent ‘development’.

“This is because of the context of the proposed change of use where there will be no physical alteration to the plot of land in question, just tidying up and some reseeding of the site (such that it will remain an entirely verdant plot) and any necessary repairs to existing walls and fences. Accordingly, the PCC is of the view that it is not necessary to establish that “the biodiversity value attributable to the development exceeds the pre-development biodiversity value of the onsite habitat”.

The parochial church council stated that in its view, planning permission is not required for the site and thus aims to change the use of the land from its present status as agricultural.

It added: “The Site is a verdant plot of 578 square metres in area that was originally mowed lawn but has now, through neglect, become largely overgrown with nettles. As the Site is currently deemed to be agricultural land the PCC believes that all of the work needed to make the plot suitable for use as a graveyard – removal of weeds and self-seeded shrubbery, re-seeding as necessary, minor repairs to walls and fences – could be carried out without the need for planning permission. However, in order to preserve its limited funds, the PCC would prefer to defer the expense of carrying out the tidying up operation until such time as change of use permission for the Site to be used as a graveyard has been obtained.”

The proposals have received the support of Blisland Parish Council, which said: “Blisland Parish Council considered the application and resolved to support it.”

Cornwall Council are currently considering the application, which can be found using planning reference PA25/02232.

PRIOR approval for the conservation for part of an agricultural shed into a dwelling is unlikely to be approved by Cornwall Council.

Mr and Mrs Borthwick applied to the local authority for pre-application advice for the conversion of one end of a barn into a two to three bedroom, off grid, single floor dwelling on land to the north of Kit Hill Farm, Launceston Road, Callington.

In the response by a case officer at Cornwall Council’s planning department, it was noted that it was unlikely that conversion of part of the building would be supported, either through the Class Q prior approval process, whereby redundant agricultural buildings can be converted in certain circumstances or if it was through a full planning application.

The council told the applicants: “The existing building is not considered to be of any architectural merit and is not considered to afford a positive contribution to the character of this rural area. It would appear from google imagery that the barn may be visible from the access lane/highway to the east, however public views of the site would appear to be relatively limited. Nonetheless, this does not mean that the conversion of this building would lead to an 'enhancement within the immediate setting'.

“To convert the building to a dwelling would inevitably introduce a sense of domesticity through the addition of residential paraphernalia and alterations to the building itself, whereby the insertion of windows would lead to increased light spill within this rural setting.

“I feel the proposed conversion to a dwelling would result in a building, which would be incongruous within its immediate setting, and would not be comparable in visual terms to the existing lawful use of the site. Following this, I feel the intensified use of a dwelling, which regardless of design would offer a more domestic appearance to both the building and site from what is existing, will result in harm to the natural environment and the current rural character of this landscape.

“For the reasons above, I am of the view that the conversion of the dwelling via a Class Q route would not gain consent as outlined above. In relation to the retention, conversion and intensified use of this building as a dwelling, I am also of the view that the building would not accord to the criteria within Policy 7 and would not lead to an enhancement to its immediate setting, regardless of any design offered.”

AN application for a new general purpose agricultural/tractor store and workshop with the inclusion of solar panels has been made for a property near Bude.

Mr Ralph Housley has applied to the local authority seeking permission for the works at Higher Tregole Bungalow, Poundstock, Bude.

The plans can be viewed using reference PA25/04159.

• Keep up to date with the latest planning applications and other statutory notices (such as alcohol licensing and probates) that affect where you live by visiting our online Public Notice Portal – be the first to know by visiting www.publicnoticeportal.uk/cornish-and-devon-post-series