A CALLINGTON councillor has slammed the Government’s policy framework after a large housing development of more than 100 homes was approved for the town.

Callington Portreeve and Cornwall Councillor for Callington Andrew Long condemned the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for leaving large areas of Cornwall defenceless against major planning decisions following the approval at Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee of an application for up to 175 homes on land off South Hill Road.

The plan proposed a ‘natural extension’ to the existing housing stock in the town with amenity space and improved play facilities but after numerous objections from local residents with concerns about the scheme, including the pressure on the town’s infrastructure and the amount of traffic the development would produce on already busy roads in the town, the town council decided to object to the application.

However, the final decision laid with Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee, which approved the application last week along with a large housing development in Helston.

After the meeting, Cllr Andrew Long said: ‘It is a sad indictment of our planning system here in Cornwall that once again a major application that builds houses before infrastructure is before you and, once again, there is little, if any, policy, either national or local, that could assist in refusing the application.

‘It is a sad reflection on how planning has changed that we have to be thinking what “would an inspector do” rather than what is right for the community.

‘These two applications had differing issues affecting them but both were effectively given the green light by policies created in Westminster with no concern for Cornwall or its people.

‘It is frustrating in the extreme that we are effectively left in the situation that despite the misgivings of a large section of the community on the application here in Callington, we are left with very little in national planning terms on which we could refuse the application.

‘Whether we are looking at education, highways, healthcare, the environment or sewerage concerns, the policy handed down by Westminster — and approved by our local MP back in 2012 — effectively makes it impossible to force infrastructure to come ahead of any further development.

‘This “open door” policy that the London government has decided upon could have a devastating effect on communities such as Callington and Helston where local concerns are not given enough weight by the NPPF.’

Negotiations will now take place involving Cllr Long to ensure that the Section 106 agreements and highways are completed properly.