A family has been given planning permission to build a farmhouse which they say will help to improve the quality of life for their son with medical needs.

Phil and Josh White had applied to build a house on land at Bosgever Farm in Portloe, near Truro, writes Richard Whitehouse, Local Democracy Reporter.

Cornwall Council’s planning officers had recommended to the central planning committee that the plans for a two-storey three-bedroom home should be refused as they were not considered to be required to support the agricultural activity on site and would harm the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The officers said that whilst the son’s medical needs could be considered to be a material planning consideration and weighed in favour of the application they did not outweigh the harm which could be caused and that the site is in the open countryside.

However the planning committee heard from Veryan Parish Council and local Cornwall councillor Julian German who both strongly supported the application and urged the committee to approve the plans.

Parish councillor Helen Couch said that she had known Josh “for most of his life” and said that his family are “valued members of our community”. She said that whilst she “totally understands why people want to protect the countryside” she felt that the application should be supported.

She highlighted that Mr White had worked for the National Trust and had spent a number of years “protecting and enhancing the coastal landscape for current and future generations” and said that being able to live on the land would enable him to continue that work.

Cllr Couch said that she wanted to focus on Josh’s medical needs and said that whilst the committee did not have his full medical history due to confidentiality she was aware and supported the parish council’s strong support for the application.

She said: “I know how hard the family have fought in overcoming the many challenges they face in bringing Josh up. We feel strongly that Josh deserves the future he will have if this application is granted.”

Cllr Couch said that the smallholding “brings such joy to Josh and he comes to life there” and claimed that if he was able to live and work on the site it could save taxpayers money in providing care and support for him.

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Simon Rix, planning consultant for the Whites, said that the family understood the need to protect the AONB and argued that the new home was a “modestly designed, sympathetically designed family farmhouse”.

And he said that planning rules did not mean there was a total ban on new homes in the AONB and that this was one of the rare occasions when it should be allowed.

Mr Rix also said that the county land agent’s assessment that the agriculture business was not big enough to require a home for the management of it was out of date and that the number of hours needed had increased since the assessment was carried out.

He also reiterated the benefits for Josh stating that he “massively benefits from working on the farm” and that there was also “a long term benefit of having a productive role in society where he can be more independent”.

He added: “The family have fought long and hard for this, it means a lot to them. I have never seen applicants as emotionally engaged with an application as this one.”

Cllr German read a statement from Mr White where he said: “The decision made today will have a fundamental impact on our family and the future of our son. The last thing I want to do is harm the landscape that I have worked so hard to protect.

“Without doubt Josh sees his future working on the farm. The family needs to be able to live and work together on the farm.”

The Roseland councillor added: “The core of this application is not the financial value, it is about the applicants’ quality of life. It is about a young adult with special needs having a quality of life on the smallholding.”

Committee member John Fitter said that he had no issue with the land agent’s report which indicated that it was “not capable of justifying a house in the open countryside” and said that he had seen farmers with hundreds of animals have applications to build homes turned down. He said that while it was a “wonderful project” some might call it a “hobby project”.

Cllr Fitter was also concerned about the impact the development would have on the AONB and that it would go against the council’s own planning policy. He said he was “not medically qualified” so could not make a decision on whether the application could be approved on those grounds.

He added: “Unless persuaded otherwise I don’t feel able to support this application.”

Michael Bunney said that he considered the application to be “finely balanced” but said that councillors should consider the strong support given by the parish council and the local councillors.

He said that whilst he wanted to protect the AONB he considered that the application would improve the area and he felt that the committee should apply strong weight to the medical needs of Josh and his family.

Cllr Bunney added: “I think we should approve this application and it is an opportunity for us as a committee to make a positive contribution to the socio economic needs of the community.”

A proposal to approve the application was carried with seven votes in favour, three against and one abstention.