PROPOSALS for the construction of a house in Stratton has been approved by Cornwall Council.

Ms Meg Hill applied to the local authority seeking outline planning permission for the construction of a single residential dwelling with all matters reserved except for access on land south of Irstead House, Poundfield Lane, Stratton, Bude.

Outline planning permission in this instance means that the applicant is seeking permission to build the house on the land as indicated in the plans, but the ‘reserved matters’ such as the size and the scale of the house, and the landscaping would be the subject of an additional application further down the line, known as a reserved matters application.

Once that is approved, construction of the property can commence.

In her application to Cornwall Council, Ms Hill wrote: “The site is located in Stratton and sits outside of the Stratton Conservation area on the corner of Poundfield Lane and Hospital Road, so the principle of development is firmly established.

“This is an outline planning application with all matters reserved except for access. Access will be via Poundfield Lane and will utilise the existing access to Irstead House. The introduction of a single dwelling on Poundfield Lane is highly unlikely to result in a material impact on vehicular movements.

“The proposed plot is considered of a good size at over 600m.2 and of proportionate size to neighbouring dwellings on Poundfield Lane. The plot is larger than Hillcot, Holmecroft and Meadows and smaller than Irstead and Fairwinds.”

Bude-Stratton Town Council objected to the plans, stating: “BSTC (Bude-Stratton town Council) object, access provision (for site vehicles) will result in a net loss of ancient Cornish hedge line.”

After their objection was challenged by Cornwall Council’s planners under what is known as the ‘five day protocol’, where they are given the reasons why the officer is recommending either refusal or approval, in this case approval, the council were given the option to either change their refusal to approve, or to ‘agree to disagree’, whereby they maintain their objection.

The planning officer’s view of it was: “The proposal seeks to maintain the existing access arrangement on site. Whilst the access to the site is typical of that serving a single dwelling, constrained in width, no works to the access width or hedgerows either side are proposed.

“Given the low-level trip generation and consequential benefits of a narrow width on road speeds this is acceptable. In terms of the concern relating to the impacts associated with the construction phase, particularly on the hedgerow either side of the existing access whilst they are matters that can be managed, they are not matters on which a proposed can be Page 4 of 10 refused, simply because they are not a permanent consequence of the development, as the construction phase will, in time, cease.

“Additionally, in terms of the risk of damage to the hedgerow such damage could occur as a result of any vehicle accessing or passing the site without it being linked to any development. It would then have to be repaired accordingly.”

The planning officer concluded: “Taking these factors into account, on balance it is considered that the proposal is acceptable, subject to conditions. All other matters raised have been taken into account, including all representations and the comments of the Town Council, but none is of such significance as to outweigh the considerations that have led to the conclusion.”

The local authority granted approval, although it will still be the subject of a reserved matters application at a later date before construction can commence.

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