1 November 2020

Much like the famous lyrics sung by 80’s pop band, Human League: “I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, when I met you”, except Justin wasn’t working in a cocktail bar, he was running a successful architectural practice when he had a chance encounter with John.

Just over ten years ago, John – who was in-between jobs at the time due to the recession – worked his charm and secured a meeting with Justin to try and sell him kitchen worktops. The pair immediately clicked and it was only a matter of minutes before they found themselves in a deep discussion over their shared passion – land. It was quickly established that Justin had a parcel of land he was looking to sell for a client and, as luck would have it, John had someone in mind who he thought would be very interested.

16 October 2020

In the first PLG market report released last month (Link here if you missed it), we asked a number of agents for their take on what is really happening in the housing market. With Halifax reporting that the average national house price soared by 7.3 per cent in September, the latest of several national indices to confirm this trend, we wanted to find out whether this was being seen by ‘local’ agents.

Justin Dodge, director of Westcountry Land & Homes, a specialist land and property developer in the South West, offered such a detailed account of what he is seeing on his patch that we thought he deserved its own guest blog. Over to you Justin….

2 October 2020

The site is currently agricultural land and has been allocated for redevelopment by Cornwall Council

Plans have been unveiled for a new 170-home development in Bodmin.

1 October 2020

It’s fair to say 2020 hasn’t been the year anyone expected. With a global pandemic altering how we go about our daily lives, from the enforcement of masks to working from home, 2020 will not be a year we will easily forget, although we probably want to.

22 September 2020

Back in June, we all heard from our Prime Minister, announcing his plan to rejuvenate the British economy by investing in a dramatic overhaul of the current planning system in a bid to help the country: “build, build, build”. 

18 September 2020

Locals said increased traffic would be a nightmare

Locals have strongly objected to plans to turn a sports field into a new housing estate that would "double the size" of their village.

An outline planning application has been submitted by Westcountry Land & Homes (Long Rock) Ltd for a proposed residential development of 154 homes at Long Rock, near Penzance.

1 September 2020

Although 2020 has been constantly plagued with what seems never-ending negativity, we’re very happy at Westcountry Land & Homes to be able to share with you our most recent development which has brought us endless joy during these uncertain times – introducing Boscolleth Gardens.

10 July 2020

Local residents and businesses are invited to view an online public consultation to comment on plans for a new housing scheme in Holsworthy.

The new project will be at Trewyn Road, Holsworthy.

Within Holsworthy a small number of sites are allocated for housing to meet the full range of the community’s needs. This new site is allocated for housing and delivery of a link road between Rydon Road and Trewyn Road under the Policy HOL03 within the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan.

1 July 2020

An ideal location, being just outside of Exeter city centre, Alphington is looking to welcome over 230 new homes, along with the renovation of five existing cottages and the creation of a small collection of apartments. 

Westcountry Land & Homes have been involved with this piece of land since 2013. Working carefully with the landowner to secure the best outcome for them, we played a key role in successfully securing planning for the site to deliver 200 homes which are set to be delivered by Barratt Homes. 

15 June 2020

Cornwall Council will consider the applications below in the next few months

Every week dozens of planning applications are submitted to Cornwall Council, from conversions and demolitions to new businesses and housing.

10 January 2019

Mevagissey is a development that has always been dear to our hearts. We fell in love with this beautiful Cornish, harbourside village the moment we laid eyes on it. We wanted to create something special, that we could look back on and feel proud of, as well as creating something that would serve the stunning location of this scheme and the local community.

30 October 2018

A new development of 46 homes in Fowey has been given outline planning permission despite concerns that it is on a greenfield site.

The homes could be built on a site off one of the main roads into the coastal town and half the properties would be affordable.

29 October 2018

Cornwall Council had received 29 comments posted about the plans on the council's website, with 28 against and one in support

Plans to build new homes in a village next to the A30 have been given approval despite concerns about the impact of noise from the busy road.

29 October 2018

A new development of 46 homes in Fowey has been given outline planning permission despite concerns that it is on a greenfield site.

The homes could be built on a site off one of the main roads into the coastal town and half the properties would be affordable.

23 October 2018

Falmouth Rugby Club is facing the latest setback in a saga over land usage that has lasted more than a decade.

Their plans to build 226 homes in Menehay Fields just off Bickland Water Road have been rejected on appeal by the Secretary of State.

16 July 2018

A proposed development of five new homes in Truro has been refused planning permission - despite not attracting a single objection from the public.

Plans had been submitted to Cornwall Council for the development of five detached homes on land at Treglennick, Truro. Under the plans, the two-storey homes would have had a "contemporary design" and all would have had an integral garage and on-site parking. 

25 June 2018

It is one of Cornwall’s prettiest villages and makes its living from tourism — but residents of Mevagissey have banned the second-home owners they blame for destroying their community. They say Mevagissey is turning into a “ghost village” dominated by houses that are empty for much of the year and last week they voted 90% in favour of banning outsiders from buying new homes. 

24 May 2018

Developer Westcountry Land & Homes hopes to build on land opposite Hill Hay Close in Fowey. The site is located on the north western edge of the town and just off the B3415, the main road into the town centre. The new housing would be 50% affordable and the scheme has been brought forward to respond to local housing need, says the developer.

26 December 2017

The developers behind plans for 226 homes on land at Menehay, which would secure the future of Falmouth Rugby Club, have appealed against Cornwall Councils refusal of the scheme.

25 October 2017

Outline plans for 220 new homes as part of a 2,000 homes parcel have been given the go-ahead.

Benefits of more than £4.5million will be provided as part of plans for 220 new homes around Exminster – as part of a masterplan for a parcel of land that will deliver more than 2,000 new homes.

23 April 2017

A legal challenge has been launched against Cornwall Council over concerns a member failed to declare a personal interest before being involved in planning decisions that could benefit his own business.

Westcountry Land & Homes said its plans to build 230 homes at Menehay, between Falmouth and Budock, could have led to the expansion of a caravan park on part of the land, and that a councillor who owns a competing business should not have had a say over them.

13 March 2017

Kingsbridge Town Council’s planning committee has recommended ‘conditional support’ for the development of 96 new homes to the west of Belle Hill.

The committee meeting on Tuesday evening was attended by representatives of the developers along with about 20 members of the public, many of whom will be directly affected by the development and are keen to voice concerns.

1 November 2016

Council has said it will not support plans by Falmouth Rugby Club to build 226 homes at Menehay Fields even if it will help the club financially. Representatives of the club, along with developers and affordable housing company DCH, were at a meeting of the town’s planning committee to request support for a planning application on the fields which sit in the green strip between Budock and Falmouth.

14 October 2016

Plans for 226 homes at Menehay Farm, which if approved would enable Falmouth Rugby Club to provide new sporting facilities for the town, have been submitted to Cornwall Council.

The proposed new homes would be spread across three areas of the site off Bickland Water Road. The central area, with its 71 homes, is the subject of a full planning application, while outline consent is being sought for the northern and southern areas, which would provide 82 and 73 new properties respectively.

11 October 2016

The majority of Falmouth residents attending a public consultation on plans to build 226 new homes off Bickland Water Road have supported the scheme, according to developers.

A public consultation carried out by Falmouth Rugby Club and Westcountry Land & Homes found that 85 percent of those taking part supported plans to use the club’s Menehay site for housing, which would release funds to safeguard the club’s future.

8 August 2016

Midas wins appeal for 94 homes near Budock Church. Plans for 94 homes between Budock and Bickland Water Road in Falmouth have been given the go-ahead despite failing to preserve the setting of the historic St Budock Church. The Planning Inspectorate has overturned at appeal a decision by Cornwall Council to refuse permission for Midas Commercial Developments to build the homes, including 33 affordable, at the Poolfield site.

10 June 2016

After three years of campaigning Falmouth School has been granted permission to build state-of-the-art sports facilities for the community. The academy school was granted permission to build 3G artificial sport pitches and a sports pavilion by a Cornwall Council planning sub-committee on Monday.

Sports director Jem Wallis said: “This is such good news for Falmouth. We have worked with the community for the past three years to get this facility and we would like to thank all of those who have supported us. The future for sport in Falmouth is now secured for generations to come.” The all-weather 3G sport pitches will include fencing and floodlighting, alongside a new sports pavilion, also known as the clubhouse. The facilities would be used outside of school hours by local sports and community groups. The school had argued that the plans were essential for the development of sport within Falmouth.

9 June 2016

Public consultation has begun on plans to build 230 homes which would secure the future of Falmouth Rugby Club. The club has teamed up with Westcountry Land & Homes for the scheme at Menehay Farm. And it wants to secure the Trengenver field as a second pitch. The land was bought by the club for £210,000, with members money with a plan to relocate its ground there several years ago.

Planning permission was granted, but the move never happened and the club decided it wished to stay where it was. Club vice-chairman James Instance said: “We want to stay in the town, we owe money and need to pay our creditors back, the land needs developing and we cannot afford to and so need to dispose of it.” Developing the land would unlock the funds needed to pay the creditors back and secure the clubs future. Mr Instance said the plan would include a “sparkling new” clubhouse with shower and changing facilities, disabled facilities, conference and classroom space and covered seating.

8 June 2016

A major housing development of more than 200 homes would secure the future of Falmouth Rugby Club for generations to come. This is the message from club officials this week, who are working with development company Westcountry Land & Homes to obtain planning permission for Menehay Farm in Bickland Water Road. The land was bought by club members a decade ago to turn into a new rugby ground before the project was scrapped. Developing the fields with 220 houses would now unlock funds that could then be used to keep rugby on the recreation ground and create state of the art facilities.

2 May 2016

Falmouth councillors are supporting plans to build 104 new homes on land at Union Corner, but have expressed their concern that residents could be left without access to doctors, dentists and nearby schools.

An original application from Westcountry Land & Homes for the former Falmouth School sports pitch was opposed by the town’s planning committee who wanted to see access to the site from the new roundabout rather than Kergilliack Road. Councillors also felt the proposed loss of hedges would be detrimental to the area. Last week, new plans went before councillors which showed the hedges retained and some of the houses near the roundabout reduced from three to two storey. The access is still off Kergilliack Road but has the backing of Cornwall highways who said creating a fifth arm to the roundabout was “unfeasible.”

25 February 2016

Proposals for new sports facilities and housing in Falmouth have been opposed – partly over a plan to sell alcohol from the school’s site. Falmouth Town Council’s planning sub-committee opposed the plans for sports facilities at Falmouth School and housing at Union Corner, on Monday.

A spokesman for Westcountry Land & Homes said it was “overwhelmingly disappointed” with the decision in the face of local support and housing need. The proposals include a new sports hub and an artificial sports pitch the size of that at Wembley Stadium. The housing at Union Corner would comprise 104 homes, and there could be more in the future. Plans for floodlights to operate until 10pm raised concerns from residents and councillors, as did the proposal to sell alcohol at a bar at the sports hub. Councillors also argued that the planned access to the homes was not good enough, that cutting down hedges and trees to widen the road nearby would harm the area’s character and unacceptable pressure would be put on local services.

28 January 2016

The developer behind plans which could see 98 homes built on land at Union Corner has been advised by a Cornwall Council planning officer that the principal of the scheme is likely to be acceptable.

Westcountry Land & Homes Ltd had sought pre-application advice from the council’s planning department over its plans for the site, which is currently used as sports pitches by Falmouth School. The ultimate aim is for the school to develop the former Budock Hospital site across the road to create a sports hub. This would leave the two pitches surplus to requirements and the sale of them for housing would help pay for the school’s proposals.

19 November 2015

Proposals for 98 new homes on land at Union Corner along with new and improved sport pitches for Falmouth School will be the subject of a public consultation which will take place on Tuesday, December 1. The public is being invited into the school between 3.30pm and 8pm when the plans for the proposed new housing development will be on display and members of the development team will be on hand to answer questions and record feedback.

The proposals include 98 new homes, a third of which would be affordable. There would be a range of two, three and four-bedroom family homes along with a small number of one and two-bedroom flats. Dedicated parking for all properties is planned and there would be enhanced and new landscaping.

28 August 2015

A proposed development which could score a windfall for Falmouth Rugby Club has sparked fears of a huge house-building programme. Westcountry Land & Homes has announced a project to build 235 homes on the Menehay Farm site off Bickland Water Road on the outskirts of Falmouth. The project could earn millions of pounds for the rugby club, which owns the site.

But Councillor John Bastin, of Budock Parish Council and Cornwall Council member for Constantine, Mawnan and Budock, is concerned the plan could trigger a domino effect of housing developments. He said Westcountry Land & Homes and Business Location Services, which own more land in the area as well as other sites nearby, hopes to build even more homes, which he did not believe were needed. 

28 August 2015

St Austell and Newquay MP, Steve Double, has hailed what he described as a “momentous decision” by Cornwall Council planning chiefs to grant permission for a new mixed-use development in St Austell.

Mr Double was speaking after the council’s strategic planning committee approved Kingsley Developments & Westcountry Land & Homes’ joint application to build a retail park, 460 homes, and a hotel on land at Higher Trewhiddle Farm, just off the A390.

3 June 2015

Westcountry Land & Homes has applied for planning permission for 12 new homes, seven of which would be affordable, on land next to School Hill in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The council’s planning officer has recommended the application be approved despite the objections of Mevagissey Parish Council on the grounds of its impact on the surrounding area and that there are more suitable sites for affordable housing.

26 May 2015

An ancient thresher barn and five landmark cottages are to be retained as part of a new 200-plus homes development on the outskirts of Exeter.

Top architects CSA have come up with a novel design for the 224 homes planned for a site off the old Chudleigh Road, near Wayland Avenue, which will follow the look of the old buildings.  Justin Dodge, for CSA Architects, said: “The five buildings that makeup Waybrook Cottages along with the thresher barn are wonderful and will be retained in the development.”

31 March 2015

A cross-subsidy development for 42 homes in Mawnan Smith has been approved at a planning appeal.

The application by John Schuttkacker for Goldmartin Field was refused by Cornwall Council earlier this year. It said the development would be in a prominent position within the area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), that the scale was disproportionate and would be detrimental and would result in the loss of high-quality agricultural land.

5 February 2015

St Austell councillors have unanimously backed plans for a multimillion-pound retail and residential development on the edge of town – with big retail names promised by company bosses.

At a special meeting of St Austell Town Council on Monday night attended by 40 members of the public, John Marshall, David Simpson and Abe Simpson of Kingsley Developments outlined their scheme to bring 460 homes, food and retail space, and a 60-bedroomed hotel to a site at Higher Trewhiddle Farm. 

30 January 2015

A developer defeated at a judicial review in a landmark case brought by Mevagissey Parish Council is again proposing a housing development at a village beauty spot.

Mevagissey Bay View LLP, part of Westcountry Land, applied for planning permission for 31 homes on land next to School Hill, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 2012.  Cornwall Council granted planning permission but the parish council, amid concerns about the impact on the coastal scenery, took both the developer and the county council to judicial review in December 2013, and won the case. Now, Westcountry Land & Homes is preparing a new planning application, this time for 12 homes, seven of them affordable, on the same site.

30 December 2014

Taxpayers are footing the bill for spiralling compensation payouts to developers who are winning more and more appeals in the absence of the Local Plan, writes Craig Blackburn. The number of successful appeals where costs have been awarded against Cornwall Council is rising sharply. The figure is on target to quadruple this year, and is set to cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds.

27 August 2014

Campaigners in Cornwall have described plans for 47,500 new homes in the county by 2030 as ‘an invasion’ of the countryside.

CPRE Cornwall has released the first part of a report slamming the pace and location of developments in the county, highlighting residential schemes as its main area of concern. It says that at the current rate of growth, the built-up part of Cornwall will double within this generation’s lifetime with new houses being built in the county at a faster rate than anywhere else in the UK.

The report says that the number of houses proposed in Cornwall Council’s draft local plan is the equivalent of 4.2 Penzances, 5.1 Cambornes, 5.3 Truros and 10.7 Liskeards.

14 August 2014

PLANS to build 18 homes in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) on the Roseland have been thrown out by Cornwall Council. Officers rejected the proposal from Westcountry Land & Homes for 10 affordable homes and eight open market houses on agricultural land east of Bowling Green, on the outskirts of St Just in Roseland.

Up to 28 letters of support were received from people outside the parish while there 13 letters of opposition to the scheme. The plan was opposed by several residents in St Just who raised concerns about the impact the development would have, the AONB, the lack of local employment and facilities, and that the entrance to the homes would be on a blind bend.

26 February 2014

The rejection of plans to build houses in Mawnan Smith has been met with delight by many, but dismay by others who are desperate to own a home in the village.

Westcountry Land & Homes had re-submitted its proposals for 42 homes, half of them to be affordable, for land at Goldmartin Field, off Sampys Hill. It’s original application had been refused by councillors in October and the company’s second attempt failed last week.

13 December 2013

An alternative to a controversial £110 million retail development in Cornwall is to be put forward by a new organisation of business leaders.

The multi-million-pound proposal on brownfield land close to St Austell town centre – which it is claimed will see the arrival of big-name retailers, jobs, affordable homes and improved transport links – is expected to be submitted to Cornwall Council planners later this week.

5 December 2013

CAMPAIGNERS have won a David and Goliath battle to stop a developer building on a Mevagissey beauty spot – for now.

Ardent protesters have hailed the judicial review, which quashed planning permission to build 31 homes (21 affordable) on an Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB) off School Hill, as a landmark decision not only for Cornwall but for the country. Mevagissey Parish Council took Mevagissey Bay View LLP and Cornwall Council to the High Court in a last-ditch attempt to stop the developer. A previous attempt to halt the build through Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, failed but, Mr Justice Hickinbottom ruled, the permission should be quashed. 

24 October 2013

PLANS for 42 new homes in Mawnan Smith have been turned down by Cornwall Council.  It followed a public meeting on October 2 to discuss the planning application on Goldmartin Field, off Sampys Hill next to Alanco, when the planning committee shared information and listened to public opinion.

21 September 2013

REVISED plans for a large housing development in Mawnan Smith are “unnecessary and unwanted” according to many objectors. More than 80 letters against the 42-home scheme by Westcountry Land & Homes have been received by Cornwall Council.

Plans for 42 homes at Mawnan drew dozens of objections. CSA Architects have drawn up the proposals for 21 affordable properties and 21 open market ones off Sampys Hill. As a result of discussions with planners, changes have been made to the layout, spreading the affordable homes across the site and two of the properties will be bungalows instead of two-storey houses. In addition, many of the homes have been reduced in height and scale. But this has not been enough to satisfy many of the opponents, who claim it does not address issues relating to surface water drainage or traffic. 

25 June 2013

PLANS to build 42 homes in Mawnan Smith have been submitted to Cornwall Council. The outline application includes affordable and open-market homes, a village green and a 25-space car park for the Memorial Hall opposite the proposed site. The scheme for Goldmartin Field, off Sampys Hill, was designed by CSA Architects and has been reduced in scale from about 50 properties following consultation carried out with villagers.

Issues relating to potential overlooking of nearby homes had also been addressed, said the company. The plans were first unveiled in July last year, when there were suggestions that a neighbourhood development order would be drawn up in order to give the local community a greater say in shaping the application. However, discussions regarding the order and a neighbourhood plan for the village stalled and have not yet been taken forward.

25 April 2013

South West Equine Protection (SWEP), the charity which helps moorland ponies from Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor who are suffering from neglect or injury, has been granted planning permission for a new equestrian centre to be built. The charity currently has 50 ponies in its care and has cared for more than 400 since it was started by volunteers in 1996.

26 February 2013

The financial contributions form part of a 106 agreement which was negotiated between the developers and Cornwall Council’s planning department ahead of planning consent being granted earlier this month. The village is to receive £140,000 for a pedestrian crossing near the Asda roundabout which will provide safe passage for pedestrians between Mabe and Penryn.

A further £170,000 will be spent on improving the village’s public open spaces. The developers will also give £160,000 to Mabe School.

15 February 2013

Proposals to build 90 homes on land at Mabe have been approved. Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee agreed to the scheme by Taylor Wimpey Exeter, Treliever Developments Ltd and Elstrad Ltd to transform a piece of greenfield land off Treliever Road.

It includes 60 open market and 30 affordable units (33 per cent), ranging from one-bedroomed to four-bedroomed properties. David Matthews, of Taylor Wimpey, told the committee: “This can provide deliverable family homes at a site easily accessed.

15 February 2013

A controversial housing development in a Cornish fishing village has been backed by the Secretary of State.

Eric Pickles agreed with Cornwall Council chiefs that planning permission should be granted for the 31 properties at Mevagissey on the south Cornwall coast. Some 21 of the homes will be affordable.

17 January 2013

A FALMOUTH company plans to decommission oil tanks it admitted have been polluting the River Fal for years – by building luxury homes. It has emerged that the Environment Agency was aware underground tanks at Azure Oil Services’s Middle Point facility are failing, with “extensive and aggressive contamination” of the estuary.

Environmentalists are demanding urgent action at the Castle Drive site. Details came to light when plans for a housing development were unveiled as a way of raising the money for remediation works – estimated at up to £3.8 million.  

3 December 2012

New £100 million proposals have been brought to the table to build a housing and shopping complex on the outskirts of a Cornish town amid continuing controversy. Some residents in St Austell are already up in arms over Mercian Developments Limited’s bid to create a 100-acre site at Coyte Farm, around one-and-a-half miles from the town.  

Blueprints for the scheme, which will cost about £100 million include a 110,000sq ft food store, 90,000sq ft of non-food retail, a hotel and restaurant.

28 November 2012

A small affordable housing scheme which caused a big stir in a Westcountry fishing village will provide homes for “the younger generation” to come, developers have said.

Cornwall Council approved plans by developers Westcountry Land & Homes to build 31 homes in a coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) at Mevagissey, on the south Cornwall coast, despite significant local opposition.

19 November 2012

More than 30 new homes are to be built in Mevagissey on the south Cornwall coast.

Cornwall Council has granted planning permission for the development of 31 affordable homes in the village.

The company behind the development, Westcountry Land & Homes, said the houses would feature slate and natural stone, in keeping with the character of the village.

9 November 2012

A LEGAL challenge could be on the cards against approved plans to build houses on a beauty spot. Mevagissey councillors say the decision by Cornwall Council to allow 31 homes in a coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) off School Hill could set a national precedent.

Parish council chairman Michael Roberts confirmed it was considering a judicial review against the decision.

2 August 2012

MAWNAN residents could have greater influence over a planned housing development in the centre of the village.

Architects CSA are drawing up proposals for affordable housing at Goldmartin Field, next to Alanco.

Although details have not been announced, it is expected to include 35 to 40 homes, with a small percentage of open-market properties to fund the affordable ones.

13 July 2012

A DEVELOPER has launched a staunch defence of his plans for affordable homes in Mevagissey, following what he claims has been a “smear campaign”.The plans by developers Mevagissey Bay View (MBV) LLP for 31 new homes, including 21 affordable homes, on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) accessed from School Hill were submitted at the end of April. They were met by strong opposition from residents and protest group Mevagissey Under Concrete (MUC) was set up. MBV said they now want to quash rumours their affordable house prices will be too high.

30 May 2012

AN APPLICATION to build 31 homes on a Mevagissey beauty spot has been submitted.

The development, by Plymouth-based Mevagissey Bay View LLP, includes 21 affordable homes on greenfield land outside the village envelope, accessed from School Hill.

It has been met with strong opposition by local people including parish councillors.

15 March 2012

Residents have been asked to have their say on a new housing development at Mabe. The plan would see 94 homes and an access road built on land between Treliever Road and the main bypass road from Tremough roundabout. Thirty-seven of the homes will be affordable, made up of a mix of rental and discount sale homes, ranging from one-bedroom flats to three-bed homes clustered together on the site. The development will include parking spaces and a footpath through towards the school.