Strategic Planning Committee - 24 September 2026

# Cornwall Council Strategic Planning Committee – Meeting Summary

**Procedural Matters**

The Committee opened with no declarations of interest recorded. Minutes from the previous meeting held on 20 August 2026 were confirmed as an accurate record, proposed by Councillor Parsons and seconded by Councillor Alvey, and were duly signed by the Chairman.

**Planning Application and Ecological Update**

The Senior Development Officer presented a planning application to the Committee, supported by plans and photographs, and provided a verbal update on ecological survey findings. Final dormice surveys, completed on 23 September 2026, confirmed no evidence of dormice within the site's hedgerows. The Council's ecology officers reviewed these findings and concluded that no amendments to the committee report's recommendations were required. An Ecology Officer's comment was read into the record, confirming that the additional survey work met best practice standards (2025) and would satisfy the probability index required to confidently establish the absence of dormice, subject to receipt of a memorandum of survey results. On this basis, officers recommended that delegated authority be granted to approve the application, subject to appropriate conditions and completion of a Section 106 Agreement.

**Public Speakers and Member Representations**

Five members of the public addressed the Committee. Mark Orrell, Hylton Bazeley, and Nigel Spragg (representing St Stephen in Brannel Parish Council) spoke in objection to the application, while Daniel Rogers and Gavin Sutton spoke in support. All speakers responded to questions from Members following their statements.

Councillor Kist, the Electoral Division Member for the area, raised significant concerns regarding highway safety and site access, which had been her reason for referring the application to Committee. While expressing support for affordable housing in principle and acknowledging the parish's recognised need for such provision, she argued that safe access to the site had not been adequately demonstrated. She cited concerns including recurring traffic congestion at school drop-off and collection times, supported by photographic evidence, potential difficulties for emergency access during peak periods, and questioned whether the condition and construction of the existing access road had been properly assessed for suitability. She questioned whether the applicant's traffic assessment provided sufficient information for the Committee to reach a decision, and formally urged Members to refuse the application on highway safety and access grounds.

**Officer Response and Outcome**

In response to Members' questions, officers clarified that the proposed access arrangement had been assessed as acceptable and was considered typical of similar developments across Cornwall. [The minutes indicate further officer responses regarding policing mechanisms and other matters, though the full text was not completed in the available record.] Separately, the Committee noted information relating to planning appeals as a standing item.