Homes refused despite offer to gift land to school

A PLAN for 50 homes in a west Cornish town which would have involved donating land to allow a primary school to expand has been refused by Cornwall Council.

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Developer Cardell Jenkins had sought permission to build the properties on a side adjacent to Penpol Primary School in Hayle.

The applicant had promised to make a gift of land in trust to Hayle Town Council to enable the school to grow and to build a dedicated school drop-off area, make road safety improvements and provide off-road parking to reduce congestion along Penpol Terrace.

Planning agent John Matthews, criticised the council and said an appeal would now be launched.

"I'm astounded at the refusal", he said. "The application decision is two months past determination date, which means [it took] five months to determine an application on an issue which is supposed to be a council priority - housing.