6 August 2026 Westcountry Land has submitted revised plans for a major new neighbourhood at Post Hill, forming Area B of the Tiverton Eastern Urban Extension. The proposals will deliver up to 650 new homes on land allocated for development within the Mid Devon Local Plan. Alongside a broad mix of housing, the plans include a care home, commercial space, children’s play areas, allotments, extensive public open space and new walking and cycling connections.

9 July 2026 At Westcountry Land & Homes, we believe the best new developments don't shout - they listen. Our latest project at Land South of Old Tannery Lane in Grampound, Cornwall, is a case in point. The site sits adjacent to the well-regarded Old Tannery Lane development - and when we began exploring the design brief, we didn't start with a blank page. We started with the buildings already there.

21 April 2026 There has been a strong and welcome focus from Government in recent months on increasing the delivery of affordable housing. Funding initiatives and policy support in this area are both important and necessary, particularly in addressing the growing need for affordable homes across the country. However, if we are to truly increase overall housing delivery, it is essential that equal attention is given to the private housing market.

10 April 2026

A recent planning committee decision in Cornwall has highlighted some of the ongoing challenges facing the delivery of new homes – particularly through Permission in Principle (PiP) applications.

The scheme, proposed on a prominent site, was refused following a split vote among committee members, with the final outcome determined by the chairman’s casting vote.

8 December 2025 Westcountry Land is pleased to announce that we have successfully won our appeal for the redevelopment of Land off St Mary’s Road, Brixham, with the Planning Inspectorate granting planning permission on 5 December 2025 for a thoughtfully designed scheme of 28 new homes, including 6 affordable properties. The approved development will transform two parcels of long-vacant brownfield land currently occupied by aging industrial buildings. These structures will be replaced with a modern, carefully considered residential layout that retains echoes of the site’s historic character by incorporating salvaged stone and traditional materials into the new homes.

1 December 2025 Two years on, our Alphington application still awaits determination Last week’s Budget included a clear signal that the Government recognises the urgent need to fix the UK’s overstretched planning system. A further £48 million has been allocated to boost capacity, including funding for 350 new planners in England through an expanded Pathways to Planning Graduate Scheme and a new Planning Careers Hub designed to support and retain mid-career professionals. For those of us working tirelessly to bring forward high-quality, sustainable development, these reforms cannot come soon enough.

12 November 2025 We’re angry, disappointed, and frankly baffled by the decision to dismiss our appeal for a new Co-op store in Bere Alston. This wasn’t just our plan - it was the village’s plan. A well-thought-out, community-driven proposal to protect local jobs, keep essential services in Bere Alston, and finally make shopping accessible for everyone - from wheelchair users to parents with pushchairs. The Parish Council backed it, the local ward councillor backed it, and residents across the village backed it.

30 October 2025

15 October 2025 The Government’s proposed Planning & Infrastructure Bill has the potential to reshape how homes and supporting infrastructure are delivered across the country - and for rural areas like the South West, the impact could be significant. For years, developers, local authorities and communities have faced a planning system that is slow, complex and often disjointed. Even when housing is needed and land is suitable, projects can be delayed for months or years due to infrastructure agreements, appeals, and procedural bottlenecks.

22 September 2025 A Cornwall Council planning committee has approved a plan for 90 homes in clay country despite concerns raised by the area's Reform councillor and the parish council. The committee noted that neither appeared at the meeting to outline the reasons for their opposition. Westcountry Land (Kenwyn) Ltd applied for outline permission for the development, which will include 23 affordable homes, on 3.14 hectares of agricultural land to the north of Roche, near St Austell. The site is surrounded on three sides by housing. There will be a mix of terraced housing, semi-detached and detached, and bungalows as well as a block of flats.

19 September 2025

A new BBC report highlights just how deep the challenges in England’s planning system have become. Official figures show planning approvals for new homes fell to their lowest level on record during Labour’s first year in office, with fewer than 29,000 projects granted permission in the year to June 2025.

Between April and June alone, just 7,000 applications were approved - the weakest three-month total since records began in 1979. The slowdown strikes a serious blow to the Government’s target of delivering 1.5 million homes before the next election.

17 July 2025 Westcountry Land’s much-anticipated Co-op development in Fowey remains unopened - not due to construction issues, but because of a year-long delay securing a single electrical connection. Despite investing over £100,000 in legal costs, work that will take just two days still can’t be completed. The root of the issue is structural: National Grid lacks the statutory powers to access land in the way that South West Water or other utility providers can. That leaves developers to navigate time-consuming legal negotiations with landowners, even for straightforward tasks.

4 July 2025 Our plans to secure the long-term future of Bere Alston’s only convenience store remain stuck in planning limbo. Despite vocal backing from both the Parish Council and the local ward councillor, the proposal was recommended for refusal. We submitted an appeal more than six months ago - only to now be informed that the Inspector originally assigned is no longer available, and the entire process must restart. This delay is more than just frustrating - it threatens the future of a much-needed service for the village. Without this development, Bere Alston risks losing its only Co-op store.

25 June 2025 At Westcountry Land, we know the rental market in Exeter is both resilient and growing. That’s why Phase 2 of our Alphington project focuses on delivering high-quality rental homes that meet the needs of today’s tenants. In refurbishing the barns and cottages, we took on buildings that would otherwise have been demolished. Instead, we gave them a new lease of life, and they’ve been fully occupied ever since. In the five years since their redevelopment, every time one becomes available, it’s re-let almost immediately. That level of consistent demand is a real testament to the specification, space and quality we’ve delivered.

16 June 2025

A recent article from the BBC has brought renewed attention to a pressing issue that those of us in the planning and development sector have been acutely aware of for some time: rural areas are being overlooked in England’s wider housing strategy.

While much of the national conversation remains focused on urban expansion and high-density developments, the housing needs of rural communities are often underestimated — or worse, ignored.

28 May 2025 The UK government has unveiled a series of reforms aimed at revitalising the small and medium-sized housebuilding sector. These changes are set to streamline planning processes, ease regulatory burdens, and provide financial support, all of which are poised to benefit landowners and developers across the South West.

27 March 2025 Three towns in Cornwall have emerged as some of the quickest areas to sell a property. New data from Property Solvers shows that house sale transactions across Cornwall have taken an average of 19.75 weeks to sell over the past year (March 2024 to March 2025). However, certain areas are seeing significantly faster sales. The data reveals that St. Agnes (TR5) is leading the way, followed by Penzance (TR19) and St. Columb (TR9).

12 March 2025

A village in Cornwall could gain 90 new homes.

A new planning application has been submitted by Westcountry Land & Homes to build the properties, which would include 23 affordable dwellings, if approved.

27 February 2025

CONCERNS have been raised over amended plans for the appearance, landscaping and layout of a proposed 175 home development near to Trewyn Road in Holsworthy.

Westcountry Land and Homes, the owner of the site, had previously obtained reserved planning permission for the development, which was set to be constructed by Persimmon Homes for the scheme, which would include 59 ‘affordable’ dwellings.

6 February 2025 A controversial plan for 28 new homes on the site of seventeenth century farm buildings on the outskirts of Brixham has been rejected by Torbay Council planners. It took members of the planning committee more than an hour to make up their minds on the proposal from Westcountry Land Enterprises to knock down the industrial buildings off St Mary’s Road.

28 January 2025

Plans to build 28 homes on the site of seventeenth century farm buildings on the outskirts of Brixham could be turned down next week (3 February).

31 July 2024

Impact on Tamar Valley landscape would be too great, say planners

A plan for a convenience store on the edge of Bere Alston has been thrown out after claims it will destroy the character of the Tamar Valley National Landscape.

14 June 2024

The shop plan was removed from original development plans in 2020 due to 'complete opposition'

22 April 2024 Controversial plans to build more than 100 new homes across two locations in Brixham comes before Torbay planners next week.

13 March 2023

A town in Cornwall is set to get its first supermarket after councillors granted planning permission.

Fowey will be the new location for a Co-op store with plans to build it on land at Polscoe.

The proposal received approval from Cornwall Council's sub-area planning committee on Monday despite an objection from Fowey Town Council.

7 March 2023

Westcountry Land has applied to build the store on the outskirts of Fowey with a decision set to be made next week.

Plans to build a Co-Op store on the outskirts of Fowey look set to be approved, despite opposition from the town council. The planning application for the development on land west of Polscoe will go before Cornwall Council’s central sub-area planning committee next week.

28 December 2022

A NEW housing estate has been given the go-ahead this week for land off the A388 adjacent to Newton House, on Tavistock Road, Launceston (PA19/09583).

9 October 2022

PROPOSALS have been submitted for a brand new Co-op store on the outskirts of Bere Alston which pledges to create 22 new full and part-time jobs.

Planning permission is being sought from West Devon Borough Council for the store three times the size of the existing one on Fore Street in the village centre.

4 July 2022

Housing developments dominate the most significant planning applications which have been validated by Cornwall Council this week. Among the proposed developments are housing projects in Penzance, Bodmin and Liskeard.

3 March 2022

Plans to build an imposing five-storey block of 45 flats on the edge of Marsh Barton has sparked a wrath of objections with the design being compared to a 'prison block'.

The applicant, Westcountry Land (Alphington) Ltd, is proposing to build the apartments adjacent to Chudleigh Road in Alphington, Exeter, and the A379 junction.

The existing site is currently on arable land with a small commercial workshop.

26 October 2021

The developers behind a new housing scheme in Cornwall have branded councillors as "out of touch" after its plans for affordable homes were thrown out.

Cornwall Council has refused planning permission for the 39-home development - which included 22 affordable homes - in St Agnes.

9 September 2021

A new Co-Op store could be coming to Fowey after a planning application was submitted to build the new convenience store.

The new shop, on the edge of Fowey on the B3415, would also have parking spaces and a delivery yard.

1 March 2021

The subject of the existing housing stock and whether it holds the key to helping the Government achieving its energy targets came to the fore when we purchased land in Exeter with a number of period properties on it – do we demolish and build new homes in their place, or do we renovate and make them energy efficient? 

We opted for the latter. 

2 February 2021

Darren Summerfield of LRM Planning and Justin Dodge of Westcountry Land and Homes share their views on the planning process during the pandemic

The planning process has long been a bone of contention for the property sector and over the years developers have been vocal on their views concerning its complexities.  

Lately, we have been pondering whether Covid has had an impact on planning applications over the past year, or has it been for all intents and purposes, ‘business as usual’.  

19 January 2021

A planning application to build 133 homes on a site near Falmouth have been put on hold again after councillors said concerns about the plans had not been addressed.

Barratt David Wilson Homes has applied for permission to build the homes on land at Pen Bethan, Hillhead Road, Kergilliack.

1 November 2020

A story of how a chance meeting led to the creation of a business that’s now celebrating its tenth year

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.