George Eustice MP has welcomed the recent decision by the Secretary of State to reject plans to build on Menehay Fields after a long running planning saga came to an end.
Plans to build 226 new dwellings at Menehay Fields, Budock, were originally refused by Cornwall Council and the appeal was dismissed. However, the developer at the time chose to appeal the Council’s decision. At the time Cllr John Bastin worked incredibly hard for many months pushing the appeal forward and ensuring that Menehay was saved. Without Cllr Bastin and his hard work selling the appeal case the decision could have gone the other way.
George Eustice MP wrote to the Housing Minister and asked that he recover the appeal. The Minister recommended that the appeal be dismissed, and planning permission be refused thereby dismissing the appeal. The Minister concluded that, the proposed development would significantly harm the landscape character and visual amenity of the are including reducing the physical and perceptual gap between Falmouth and Budock Water. Concerns were also raised as to the loss of a valuable greenfield site.
George Eustice MP said, “I am pleased that the Minister has upheld the Council’s decision and refused the appeal. It is right that greenfield sites like that of Menehay are protected from developments. I have always said that there should be a principle of building on brownfield sites before greenfield sites especially around our towns and this case is no different. I want to thank all the local residents who were engaged in this campaign and in particular Cllr John Bastin who put in an incredible amount of time and passion into saving this valuable space. I will continue to work and protect our greenfield sites.
If you would like to keep up to date with my campaign to ‘Protect Greenfield Sites’ amongst others, then do visit the campaign page on my website at: https://www.georgeeustice.org.uk/campaigns/protecting-our-greenfield-sites