A PLANNING application to demolish former furniture depository and former bus garage buildings in Bude has been submitted for the second time — despite already having been passed by Bude-Stratton Town Council the first time writes Ryan Cox.

It is proposed that the site on Lansdown Road will be cleared to make way for the erection of five town houses, ten flats and three commercial units.

Speaking to councillors at their meeting in the Parkhouse Centre last Thursday, planning consultant Peter Wonnacott said the reason behind the resubmission was due to objections from a neighbouring property.

When the original application was submitted they had expressed concerns about the development directly to Mr Wonnacott, as well as on the Cornwall Council planning website.

Their online objection listed reasons as to why they were against the development. These included pollution to their grounds during construction, potential two-three years of noise pollution, loss of light to their garden and into the house itself, the safety of their two young children and disabled, elderly relative as well as the loss of privacy - specifically from town house number 12 in the plans, which indicated a window overlooking their garden.

Mr Wonnacott said some of the points raised in the objection were justified and the original application was therefore withdrawn.

He added: “In the new application, we have altered the scheme slightly, including one less flat and reducing the size of the town houses.”

He said the objectors were now happy with the plans so he hoped Cornwall Council would grant planning permission.

Chairman of the planning committee Cllr Bob Willingham said: “As this is just a resubmission of the former application, which we were really pleased with, I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t pass it again.”

Cllr Julia Bryson voiced some concern: “I’m concerned about the height. It goes up as much as an extra level to other buildings nearby, and therefore I’m worried that it will set a precedent for other planning applications.”

Having looked for comments on the Cornwall Council planning site again, nothing stood out to indicate the new plans were unacceptable, so Cllr Willingham proposed the town council have no objections.

A vote of the four members of the committee present, resulted in three in favour and one, Cllr Bryson, against.

The final decision will be made by Cornwall Council plans committee.