THE latest bid to build nine open market dwellings on land near St Merryn has been put before Cornwall Council’s planners – two years after proposals for nine houses and a car park was refused.

Mr Barton has applied to Cornwall Council for what is known as a hybrid planning permission which combines two elements of a different permission level for land to the north of Azure, St Merryn.

The latest proposals are seeking a full planning permission for vehicular access, an estate road and infrastructure with associated works, and outline planning permission with some matters reserved for up to nine dwellings for the land.

Nine dwellings are one less than the minimum which could trigger a requirement to either provide affordable housing or pay a sum of money to provide affordable housing elsewhere.

In St Merryn, this could mean as much as 50 per cent of the development being designated as affordable – and a previous planning approvals or applications for the land from 2015, 2017 (later withdrawn) and 2018 concerning developments with this split of tenure.

In the latest application for the land, the nine development plots will become customised houses – with the buyers of the plots specifying their own customised house to then be built by a contractor.

The applicant stated that this plans will: “Support that need for new housing, providing 9 new homes to boost the current housing stock, and free up existing homes for local people in need of a home in the parish. The custom house aspect of the project will enable local people to design a home that meets their own requirements and budget.

Of the requirement for contributions to the community, the applicant’s planning agent stated in the documents submitted as part of the application that it is willing to discuss contributions to the community subject to it not threatening viability. It said: “The applicant is willing to enter into a Section 106 Agreement where necessary to secure appropriate mitigation arising from the development. Any obligations sought will need to comply with the tests set out in Regulation 122 of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations 2010 (as amended), namely that they are necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms, directly related to the development, and fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development.

“Subject to demonstrating compliance with these tests, the development may give rise to potential contributions towards local infrastructure, including education, healthcare provision and affordable housing. Any requirement for an off-site affordable housing contribution will be considered in accordance with Cornwall Council’s adopted policies and viability evidence, with the scope and level of any obligations agreed through the planning process.”

However, affordable housing is unlikely to be among them, with the statements adding: “Whilst this site is not required to provide affordable housing, due to being a minor development, a mix of house types and sizes will be provided in line with market demands.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

The full application can be found on the Cornwall Council planning portal under reference PA26/05164.