The West Sub-Area Planning Committee of Cornwall Council met on Monday 14 September 2026 to consider three planning applications. The committee granted Permission in Principle for two housing developments and deferred a decision on a third application pending further information.

Applications for Consideration

PA26/04139: Land South of Parc Garland, Church Cove, The Lizard, Helston, Cornwall, TR12 7PQ

The committee refused an application for Permission in Principle for the construction of up to nine dwellings on land south of Parc Garland. Councillor Rory Gow, the Electoral Division Member, expressed significant concerns about the site's location within the Cornwall National Landscape (CNL) and argued that the development would have an urbanising effect, conflicting with national and local planning policies aimed at protecting designated landscapes. He highlighted that the proposal was for open market housing, not affordable housing, and did not represent infill or rounding-off development. Officers acknowledged the conflict with landscape policies but felt the benefits of delivering housing in a location with a housing land supply shortfall outweighed the localised harm. However, the committee ultimately voted to refuse the application, citing the loss of open land, harmful urbanising effects, and the failure to conserve and enhance the CNL.

PA24/03042: Land Adjacent to 1 St James Place, Praze Road, Leedstown

An outline application for an affordable-led scheme of up to four dwellings on land adjacent to 1 St James Place was deferred. Councillor Loveday Jenkin, the Electoral Division Member, raised concerns about the ecological value of the site, arguing that it contained lowland heathland habitat and was part of a wider network of heathland patches important for wildlife. She also questioned the accuracy of the ecological report and highlighted potential contamination issues from former mine spoil, referencing the site's location within the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. Officers recommended approval, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement, based on the advice of their ecologist and the need for affordable housing. The committee voted to defer the decision to allow for further information to be obtained from the World Heritage Site Office and the agent, with delegated powers to the Service Director for Planning & Housing to make the final decision upon receipt of this information.

PA26/04461: Land West of Milsrof, Eglos Road, Ludgvan, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 8HG

Permission in Principle for the construction of up to five dwellings on land west of Milsrof was granted. Councillor Juliet Line, the Electoral Division Member, supported the Parish Council's request to call the application to committee, citing concerns about the site being actively farmed agricultural land, its location outside the settlement boundary, and the potential for incremental development. She also raised issues regarding highway safety, surface water run-off, and the lack of affordable housing. Despite the conflict with local planning policies, the committee granted Permission in Principle, acknowledging Cornwall's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply. Officers argued that the proposal complied with Policy S5(j) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2026, which supports development outside settlements that addresses an unmet housing need and is well-related to an existing settlement. The committee voted to approve the application, with detailed matters to be assessed at the Technical Details Consent stage.

List of Planning Appeal Decisions Received, of Appeals Lodged and Dates of Public Inquiries

The committee noted the list of planning appeal decisions received, appeals lodged, and dates of public inquiries.