PENSILVA is set for a major housing boost after plans for 50 affordable homes on the edge of the village were given the green light.

Cornwall Council has granted conditional permission for the scheme on land west of St Ive Road, paving the way for new homes aimed at meeting local housing needs.

Being delivered by Coastline Housing, the project will provide a mix of properties ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, alongside two bungalows.

The 50 homes will comprise eight one-bedroom flats, two one-and-a-half-bedroom bungalows, 18 two-bedroom houses, 21 three-bedroom houses and one four-bedroom house.

The plans also include landscaped public open space, private gardens and new pedestrian links connecting residents with the surrounding village.

A footpath will link the site with Cotton Close to the north and Quarry Road to the west.

Access will be from St Ive Road, with two parking spaces provided for most properties and one for each of the one-bedroom homes. Disabled parking spaces will also be provided for properties designed to meet accessible housing standards.

The applicants highlight the homes have been designed to reflect Pensilva’s existing character, with a mixture of one and two-storey properties, pitched roofs, traditional wall treatments and sympathetic landscaping.

Native hedgerows and planting will help define boundaries, while a shared green space will provide an area for residents and create additional habitat for wildlife. A range of measures will also support biodiversity, including bat and bird boxes, bee bricks and gaps in garden fencing to allow hedgehogs to move safely through the site.

A new attenuation pond will form part of the landscaping, helping manage surface water while creating a wetland habitat.

Sustainable features are also laid out in the plans, including air source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and measures to improve energy efficiency.

The site covers around two hectares on the south-eastern edge of Pensilva, close to existing homes. It sits alongside St Ive Road, with residential development to the north and east and agricultural land to the south.

The design makes use of the site’s natural contours, helping the properties fit into the landscape while reducing the amount of ground disturbance.

Each property will have private outdoor space, while the wider scheme will provide shared green areas for residents.

The council’s approval comes with conditions covering drainage, highways, landscaping, ecology and construction.

Highway improvements and pedestrian links must be completed as part of the scheme, while a proposed 30mph speed limit along the St Ive Road frontage will be subject to the necessary traffic regulation process.

Construction will also have to be managed to control noise, dust, pollution and traffic, while protecting existing trees, hedgerows and wildlife. Archaeological investigations will also be required before work begins because of the potential for historic remains to be present.

The approval means the project can now move forward, bringing 50 affordable homes to Pensilva along with new green space and improved links to nearby streets.