PLANS to build eight new homes in Illogan have been slammed by a parish council which said it had never felt so strongly opposed to a planning application.

The planning application for a housing development on land off Merritts Hill went before Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee yesterday when it was refused planning permission.

Under the plans eight open market homes would have been built on the greenfield site with access to the development being provided by demolishing a bungalow.

But the plans had attracted strong opposition from Carn Brea Parish Council and Illogan Parish Council as well as local Cornwall councillor David Ekinsmyth.

Cllr Robert Drew, from Carn Brea Parish Council, said it did not support the plans and added: “Never has the parish council felt so strongly towards a planning application as they do to this one.”

He said the land had not been identified for development and was an essential “green buffer” between Illogan and West Tolgus which he said was “zealously guarded by both parish councils”.

The application had been recommended for approval by planning officers who said it would help meet local housing need.

Cllr Drew said: “There are 21 properties for sale, many of them have been on the market for months. Given this situation what is the requirement for more properties?”

He attacked the plans saying they would be “building across fields for no good reason”.

The parish councillor concluded saying: “If there is a message of merit in this application we can’t find it.”

Cllr Ekinsmyth said he felt that the application breached a number of policies in the Cornwall Local Plan.

He also said the additional homes would put pressure on local infrastructure and services such as doctors and schools which were already under strain.

He added that the housing need in the area was for affordable homes for rent with one or two bedrooms. “There is no need for this development,” he added.

A proposal to approve the application was put to the vote and lost by four to 7. An  approval to refuse permission was passed by seven votes to four.