THE chair of a Cornwall Council planning committee has expressed his dismay after finding out that applications for developments that are less than nine dwellings in size will no longer be able to called into be decided by councillors as opposed to planning officers.

Cllr Adrian Parsons spoke out about the rule change after being re-elected as the chair of the East area planning committee.

The vast majority of planning applications are decided by paid officers employed by the council.

However, planning applications that could be considered more contentious, where for example there are objections can be ‘called in’ to be decided by a committee of elected council members.

At the meeting, the councillors on the committee will be presented with the officer’s recommendation, such as whether to refuse or approve an application, then there is the opportunity to hear from the public prior to a decision being made.

Cllr Parsons has revealed that applications of less than nine houses will soon be prohibited from being decided by councillors.

The Liberal Democrat councillor for Altarnun and Stoke Climsland said that the changes in his view would have an impact on the democratic process, with councillors excluded from deciding such applications.

He said: “It was nice to be re elected as the Chairman of the east planning committee for the year ahead and am extremely grateful to my fellow members for their support.

That said (it) felt like the end of an era for how we conduct our business as in the future it looks like applications of less than nine dwellings will no longer be allowed to be put in front of a committee.

“Inevitably this will lead to fewer applications being heard and inevitably see the four planning committees we now have in Cornwall, east, central, west and strategic reduced.

“Whilst as councillors, I’m sure we will do our best to ensure our residents voices are heard, there’s no doubt the democratic process just won’t be the same!”

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

Cornwall Council confirmed that the change in planning rules were as a result of changes implemented by the government.