Central Sub-Area Planning Committee - 28 July 2025

Name: Central Sub-Area Planning Committee — 2025-07-28
Start: 2025-07-28
Location: Cornwall Council, County Hall

Central Sub-Area Planning Committee·2025-07-28

View original minutes on ModernGov

Key Takeaways

•The committee resolved to approve the minutes from the June 30, 2025 meeting and heard presentations from objectors, the Town Council, and the applicant regarding planning application PA24/01112.
•Councillor Preece called the application to committee due to concerns about the massing, density and appearance of the proposed development in relation to the site's heritage context.
•The proposed care home scheme would significantly exceed Cornwall Council's identified need, generating a 57% increase in beds when only 17 additional beds are required by 2050.
•Concerns were raised about insufficient affordable housing contributions, with calls to increase the contribution from the proposed amount to £24,192 per unit.
•The committee was urged to consider reducing the scale and height of the proposed building to address resident and Town Council concerns about the development's impact on the historic medieval town.

AI-Generated Summary

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The meeting began with the Democratic Officer briefing the Committee on the emergency evacuation and domestic procedures, confirming that no declarations of interest were recorded. A resolution was moved by Councillor Webb, seconded by Councillor Rowse, and adopted to formally approve the minutes of the Central Sub‑Area Planning Committee meeting held on 30 June 2025, with the Chairman’s signature to be obtained.

The Principal Development Officer (PB) presented planning PA24/01112, supplying plans, photographs and a summary of the key issues. The officer recommended that the application be granted delegated approval as outlined in the accompanying report. The Committee heard from several stakeholders: Mr David Dunkley and Councillor Michelle Nineham of Lostwithiel Town Council each spoke against the proposal; Miss Chloe Pitt, representing the applicant, spoke in support; and Councillor Preece raised a series of concerns regarding the scheme’s massing, density, heritage impact, and the adequacy of the affordable‑housing contribution.

Councillor Preece highlighted the historic character of the medieval town and questioned whether the high‑density, major‑scale development was appropriate. She noted that an existing 2019 planning consent already allowed an increase in care‑home capacity and independent‑living apartments, and she challenged the applicant’s economic‑viability assumptions. Preece also pointed out that the proposed increase of 57 % in specialist care beds exceeded the projected need of 17 additional beds by 2050, as set out in the Interim Planning Strategy, and that two similar facilities already operate in the town. Regarding affordable housing, she argued that the off‑site contribution should be raised to £24,192 per unit and urged a reduction in the scheme’s scale and height.

Following the presentations, officers responded to the Committee’s questions, clarifying the differences between the 2019 consent and the current proposal, and providing details on the trees slated for removal should the application be approved. Information relating to any appeals was also noted. The meeting concluded without a final vote on the application being recorded in the excerpt; the Committee’s next steps will depend on further deliberation of the issues raised.