A GREEN space which provides a valuable transition zone between the coast and built up areas of Falmouth should not have a home built on it, town councillors have said.

Paul Harvey, who was originally given permission to build one home at 11 Boscawen Road, Falmouth, wants to build another eco home in the southern part of property's garden next door to Boscawen Fields, a popular public open green space.

At meeting of Falmouth Town Council's planning committee on Monday, Mr Harvey's representative Dan Mitchell told councillors that the proposed development at no 9 was of high quality.

"The scheme is very much a design led solution to deliver a high quality development on the plot so no harm is incurred on the local elements deemed worthy of protection," he said.

The view of the proposed home from the garden. Picture StudioArc

The view of the proposed home from the garden. Picture StudioArc

"The site is not part of the important local space of Boscawen Fields nor will it have any adverse visual impact upon the fields themselves.

"The low impact design will ensure that the dwelling is out of sight from the open space on Boscawen Road. I spent a considerable amount of time attempting to view the plot from the coast path and Gyllyngvase Beach and I am pleased to say that due to the levels of the site, it cannot be seen from public view points.

The view from Gyllyngvase Beach. Picture StudioArc

The view from Gyllyngvase Beach. Picture StudioArc

"The scheme has been dug into the site to ensure it is not going to impact the adjacent public open spaces. It will not erode any of the important green space the site is not prominent."

He said the design had a green roof and a low impact design solution which conserves the Falmouth conservation area and he was hoping that due to the minimalist scale that the committee would support the application.

The proposed home would be below the hedgeline

The proposed home would be below the hedgeline

However councillors were unmoved and said the site should never be built on.

Cllr John Spargo said when the application was made for the other building, the developer, "Came to us and said he would never make an application to build on the rest of the plot."

Mayor Steve Eva said the site used to be owned by a Mr Wilkie and there was a covenant put on it, that this land should never be built on.

"I don't know where it's gone but it was never meant to be built on," he said. "Whether there is a covenant I am not sure but it was put there in 70s."

How the house would look from the entrance on Boscawen Road. Image StudioArc

How the house would look from the entrance on Boscawen Road. Image StudioArc

Case Officer Laura Potts said the land was in private ownership but was of high landscape value in a conservation area next to a public open space between Gyllyngvase and Swanpool Beaches. It was not in a green designated area.

The Neighbourhood Development Plan panel say the application should be refused as well as Falmouth & Penryn Conservation Committee, Falmouth Bay Residents' Association and Falmouth Civic Society.

The view of the site from Boscawen Fields with the Liner development in the background

The view of the site from Boscawen Fields with the Liner development in the background

Even the Ramblers Association (Cornwall) objected saying together with the southern part of the Queen Mary Court land, the site provided a valuable green transition zone between the open coastal landscape of the Boscawen Fields,

Cllr Eva warned the committee: "We are getting plans against the neighbourhood plan all the time," he said. "The idea is to protect the town from overdevelopment and if we start having a chink in that then it will spread.

"This is a prime example of somebody promising one thing, gets half of what he wants, and then he wants to come in and take the other half. It's too much all the time."

Falmouth Town Council recommended refusal as the proposal is in direct conflict with Neighbourhood Development Plan which protects the site from development and the proposal contravenes Cornwall Council pre-application advice which recommended only one dwelling on the site which is already under construction.