THE owner of a former village vicarage has been told that building one new house, rather than two, on the property’s garden might be more favourable.

Mr S Tillot asked Cornwall Council for advice over plans to build at The Old Vicarage in St Cleer.

Before the sale of the property by the Dioceses of Truro, there had been a campaign in the village to preserve the pilgrimage gardens. Locals argued that the gardens had been a much valued place of reflection, prayer and outreach for 13 years.

But the Diocese said the vicarage was an expensive building to maintain and unfit for its modern purpose.

At the end of 2016, Mr Tillot asked for pre-planning advice over plans to build two detached houses at The Old Vicarage.

In a response, planning officer George Shirley said: ‘There are concerns that the proposal would result in the overdevelopment of the site. Development with one dwelling, rather than two, may be more likely to receive a favourable response.’