TOWN councillors have rejected a planning application seeking to build nine new homes in Launceston, with the council describing the location as possibly having ‘archaeological significance’.

Launceston Town Council’s planning committee discussed the application for nine dwellings on land South East of Penworth Close at its meeting last Thursday, December 1.

Documents submitted to Cornwall Council state the site has an agricultural use at present, and state the application ‘seeks approval for nine dwellings set within a framework of ‘green-space’ with associated access and infrastructure to support the proposal’.

Cllr Dave Gordon said: “I can’t feel I can support this. I think it’s an unsuitable area to be building nine dwellings.

“I certainly don’t think the residents of Penworth Close are going to be overjoyed.

“It’s going to affect Windmill Hill and Penworth Close.”

Cllr Jane Nancarrow added that it was an ‘historic site’. She added of the area: “It’s already cluttered enough as it is.”

Committee chairman Cllr Rob Tremain referred to a previous outline planning application for the site submitted last year seeking to build eight homes, which the town council did not support. He read out the committee’s comments from that time: “This is a historic site for Launceston being the site of the start of the Civil War in Launceston in 1643. It is the ‘green top’ of the town possibly also of archaeological significance as it has always been open space. It is currently the subject of a nomination for registration as a community asset to be retained as open space.”

It was noted the site has previously had planning permission granted for 23 properties.

The committee also made reference to Cornwall Council’s Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD), which puts forward proposed locations for housing and commercial development in the town up to the year 2030. This document states that in comparison to other main towns, Launceston has ‘a significant under supply’ of some types of open space. The provision of accessible open space in Launceston is approximately 13m2 per person, which Cornwall Council said is ‘significantly lower’ than 41m2 per person, which is the average of the main Cornish towns.

Cllr Leighton Penhale said: “Did we not originally establish this was going to be another of our green areas? We keep being told we have got to have these green areas. This is one I think would be an ideal space for green space, alongside the park.”

Cllr Roger Creagh-Osborne said: “Given Cornwall Council’s identification of Launceston’s dire state of public green space — similar towns have more than twice as much — we shouldn’t be building on what is green open space in the centre of town.”

Cllr Gordon added: “Cornwall’s printed documents tell us we are well short of that.”

Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan expressed concern that allowing this development to go ahead would cause further building of houses on nearby sites, and Cllr John Harris said: “It’s a wedge that when you have opened up, other areas are opened up.”

Councillors moved not to support the application. The decision on the application will be taken by Cornwall Council.