A Cornwall Council strategic planning committee heard that councillors’ hands were tied by the Government’s housing targets policy and that it was now “almost impossible” to refuse such applications.

The comment was made during debate concerning an application by Coastline Housing to build 26 ‘100% affordable’ homes on land near Dobwalls primary school.

The meeting heard that local residents had raised concerns about the impact on “valued views”, but there was a high level of housing need with 91 households registered for homes in the area.

Tracey Kitto, chair of Dobwalls Parish Council, told the meeting that her council had voted unanimously to oppose the application because it “completely ignores and rejects the policies” of the Dobwalls neighbourhood development plan (NDP).

The parish council had concerns about the effect on road safety near the village school, as well as the “detrimental effect” the housing could have on the landscape, making the area much more urbanised.

She added that NDPs “count for nothing on most occasions” when it comes to planning applications. “This is because Cornwall Council and its planning officers are under so much pressure from central government to build, build, build no matter the consequences to meet Government-imposed housing targets.

“Build, build, build is destroying the character, fabric and future of our towns and villages and the entire county of Cornwall. It’s time to stop it.”

Both Cllr Kitto and Cllr Jane Pascoe, who represents Liskeard South and Dobwalls on Cornwall Council, said more appropriate sites had been identified in the village.

Cllr Pascoe, who brought the application to committee, said it would bring the total to over 300 new houses in Dobwalls, “increasing the scale and mass well in excess of the size of the main settlement of Dobwalls village, putting much strain on the limited infrastructure and services”.

Nathan Mallows, director of development and growth at Coastline, told the committee that the charitable housing association supports almost 10,000 people in Cornwall with its affordable housing provision.

He said there would be a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes, including bungalows, at the Dobwalls site. Mr Mallows stressed that the council’s highways officer did not object to the application.

“It’s a rural exception site – it’s very purpose is to allow affordable housing adjacent to settlements where there is evidence of local need,” he added.

Cllr Andrew Long told the meeting: “The reality is the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) imposed on us by central government makes it almost impossible now to refuse applications. It doesn’t matter where it is – whether it’s in National Landscapes, on the edge of National Landscapes, on the edge of a village, outside a village – there’s now so much pressure to approve applications.”

Cllr Adrian Parsons said: “Whilst we have housing targets to meet, there are times when I feel we’re delivering housing for housing’s sake, which potentially we don’t need.”

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A recommendation to approve was won by eight votes in favour, one against and no abstentions.