PLANS to build a new three-storey dwelling on Lynstone Road, Bude, have been met with some opposition from neighbouring residents.

The application, submitted by Rob Grieve on behalf of Mr and Mrs Claydon, was on the table for discussion at Bude-Stratton Town Council’s planning committee meeting on Thursday, February 2.

Mr Grieve was present as a member of the public, along with Mr and Mrs Hockaday, who live in a nearby cottage on Lynstone Road, who were in opposition to the plans.

The committee was presented with the plans and survey documents, which propose a three-storey dwelling made of stone, timber and render, which would sit in between No 2 and No 3 Lynstone Cottages.

The committee heard that the existing dwellings along Lynstone Road are two-storey dwellings with pitched roofs, and that the proposed build would be ‘out of character’ with the existing houses.

During the 15 minutes for members of the public to speak, John Hockaday said: “We are objecting to this application. The approximation of the site is one of the highest in Bude — it will be in the eye if it’s not in keeping with the area”

Mr Grieve, in response, told the committee: “The design of this allows for a one-off distinctiveness. It can add to the local context, as well as being out of place with the local context.

“The grand floor is at approximately 95 square metres, with a total of 585 square metres in area. The materials used include timber, stone and renders, which are all seen along the street of Lynstone Road. I think in terms of design, it adds a distinctiveness of variety.”

When discussing this agenda item, the committee confirmed that the site was not within the conservation area.

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Lee Bartrop, said: “We get various planning applications in Bude, where the design is different to what we’ve got. It’s quite nice that when you go to north Cornwall, you can tell you’re in north Cornwall because of its buildings.

“But in Bude, it’s different — there’s a mixture.”

The committee agreed that the main issues to consider when looking at this application were overlooking issues, privacy, style and design, and the character of the design.

Cllr Bartrop continued: “There’s a collection of individual houses up that road, and they are all different.”

However, Cllr Lea Deely added: “There is nothing starkly modern about the existing houses; they are all of a certain era.”

The committee proceeded with an open session, and allowed members of the public to speak up during this time.

Mr Hockaday said: “If this was to be built in Widemouth, it would fit in perfectly. But it’s not Widemouth, it’s Lynstone Cottages.

“If you refer back to the Cornwall Local Plan for Bude, it states that the appearance should be in keeping with the rest of the area. I’m aware that the houses in the area are different, but they are all in keeping.

“If the committee agrees to this, it would stick out as something in the industrial sites.”

Cllr Bartrop, after closing the open session and returning to discussion, reminded everyone present that Cornwall Council looks into privacy issues very seriously.

Cllr Deely said: “I think it’s a lovely house in the wrong place. I think it’s totally out of keeping with the area, and I would make an objection on that alone.”

Supporting this view was Cllr Bob Willingham, who said: “It’s out of keeping and you can see the site from the marshes. The huge thing here is the loss of privacy.”

Cllr Deely continued: “We respect Cornwall’s local plan, which states that it must be in keeping. It adversely affects the street scene. It’s a lovely house — I’d love to live in it — but not in that spot.”

Cllr Willingham added: “The existing houses fit in really well, but this will stick out like a sore thumb. It’s out of keeping, in my opinion.”

The councillors agreed that the proposed build would be out of keeping in the local area and there would be a loss of privacy for neighbouring properties. Cllr Deely also added that the top storey windows would be ‘significantly higher that than of the existing properties’.

However, after a lot of discussion on this, the committee’s final resolution was that there was no objection to the application. The final decision will be made by Cornwall Council.