A PLANNING application for 82 new houses in Looe, which has been the subject of much contention and discussion, is set to come before Cornwall Council planners on today (Monday, January 4).

A decision on the application by Barratt David Wilson Homes for the second phase of its development on land off St Martin’s Road has been postponed twice in the past seven months while the developer negotiated its proposals for drainage and other matters at the site.

The Environment Agency (EA) has stated that it still wants more detail from Barratt on the drainage system planned for the new houses. The EA also wants additional evidence from the developer that ‘an adequate surface water drainage system has been built for phase one’ where the houses have been occupied for several years.

Looe Town Council has agreed unanimously that it would object to the current application on the basis of the Environment Agency’s response. But according to Looe, Strategy Group (LSG) members who were at the meeting, planning officer Stephen Kirby looks set to recommend approval of the plans.

Developer Barratt stated that a further extension of time ‘is not required’.

Looe mayor Armand Toms said his own and the town council’s response to the proposals had been led by the experts. He said the council has asked an ‘inordinate number of questions’ in the past months.

‘We’ve been led by the experts. We have done what I think the town would expect us to do to challenge. I will express my concerns again to the planning committee on January 4.’

‘No matter what the decision is at the end of the day, this town’s got to live with it.’