A plan to build 21 new houses in a village near Liskeard has been given the green light after changes to the type of affordable homes to be provided.

Landowner Paul Pascoe first submitted an application for a new residential development at St Keyne in 2015.

All 21 homes within this scheme were to be for affordable sale at less than market value.

This was refused, on the basis that this type of housing would not meet the local need.

Cornwall Council has now given outline planning permission to the plan, which has been amended to reflect the demand for affordable rented homes. Six of the houses will be for affordable rent, with a further five homes being made available for shared ownership or for sale at no more than 70 per cent of the market value.

The potential for 10 of the new houses to be for sale on the open market has been written into the section 106 agreement.

The new houses are to be built on agricultural land adjacent to the housing development at Broad Park and Sandy Close, with access via an existing road.

Concerns had been raised by some residents of St Keyne over the lack of amenities in the village, the increase in traffic movements, and the effect of the new development on the wildlife living in the field to be developed.

More than one resident, including a local estate agent, have commented that existing new houses in the lower price bracket have ‘not sold well’.

But Cornwall Council’s affordable housing team says there are 33 families or individuals on the Homechoice register with a connection to St Keyne, and this justifies the creation of new houses.

St Keyne Parish Council has supported the application, with the proviso that members would like to see traffic calming measures introduced on Clemens Road as part of the full planning application.